BMW 5-Series returns with comfort

Although the BMW 5-Series has been in production for about 40 years, every edition has always come with a blend of innovations, comfort and performance.

Reviewers agree that the vehicle has come to define the midsize luxury sedan market.

Nigerians too can now join the rest of the world to celebrate the arrival of the 2013 BMW 5-Series with the unveiling of the magnificent car in Lagos last Thursday, about four months after its debut.

This is also coming three years after the introduction of the BMW 5-Series model in Nigeria, which was meant to complement the glamour for the inauguration of a sprawling showroom in Abuja, courtesy of Coscharis Motors.

The President, Coscharis Group, Mr. Cosmas Maduka, says the BMW 5-Series success story continues with the new lifecycle model LCI (F10 LCI) introduced in May, 2013.

Even as he notes that no major changes have been made to the already stunning exterior of the car, he stresses that the interior is more advanced than ever.

According to him, the BMW 5-Series Sedan defines a perfect and unique balance of sporty and elegant design, performance and efficiency, driving experience and driver orientation.

Options

The 2013 BMW 5-Series is a midsize luxury sedan available in four trim levels that correspond with engine choice: 528i, 535i, 550i and ActiveHybrid 5, says an auto reviewer, Edmund.com

Safety

The 2013 BMW 5-Series is a safety standout. The reviewer notes that the standard safety equipment for the 2013 BMW 5-Series consists of stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.

The stability control system integrates several features designed to improve braking performance, such as periodically wiping the brake rotors dry in wet conditions and automatically slugging the brake pads to the rotors when the driver abruptly lifts off the throttle.

Also standard is the BMW Assist emergency communications system, which comprises automatic crash notification, an emergency response button, remote door unlock and stolen vehicle recovery.

When equipped with active cruise control, the 5-Series comes with a pre-collision system that can warn the driver of the possibility of rear-ending a vehicle ahead. If a collision is imminent, it can also automatically apply the brakes.

A lane-departure warning system and a blind-spot monitor are optional.

The night-vision system is capable of displaying possible hazards that are otherwise out of regular headlight range.

Rain-sensing wipers, power heated mirrors, xenon headlamps, dynamic cruise control, and a dual-zone climate control system are all included, even on the base 528i.

Interior

Reviewers applaud the inside of the 5-Series, which is driver-centered and its spacious feeling in front with its rather low, horizontal dash layout and pushed-out corners.

An online auto reviewer, the Car Connection, notes that the vehicle’s major controls and displays are angled six degrees toward the driver. And to store away electronics, out of sight, there’s a centre console that opens wide.

Although it says that most of the materials and trims look and feel conservative, it insists there is a lot to like about the simple, clean instrument-panel design.

Performance

The 5-Series feels satisfying and athletic. The electric power steering in the new BMW 5-Series is the best you’ll find in a sedan its size; it has a great, natural sensation on centre and plenty of road feel in tight corners, the Car Connection reports.

It notes that the BMW’s Integral Active Steering in the car steers the rear wheels slightly in the opposite direction below about 35 mph, or in the same direction at higher speeds, to either enhance stability or aid parking, and you end up with an even more nimble car.

It says, “All of the 5-Series models get BMW’s Driving Dynamics Control, which helps the 5-Series fit your need, whether that’s taking on a canyon road or bringing the kids to school.

“This year, BMW has added Eco Pro to the existing Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport+ settings. The system affects throttle response, steering assist and transmission shift points, as well as the performance of the active suspension systems, so you can truly dial in a particular performance attitude – including Sport+, which is configured especially for track-driving enthusiasts.”

Maduka sums up the Coscharis’ overall view of the new BMW 5-Series as a celebration of victory.

“We are not only celebrating our successful past as a company, but more importantly, we are looking into the future as part of our drive to incessantly reinvent the company and our BMW brands’ portfolio,” he declares.