From Auto Express:
The mystery of the Famous Five has finally been resolved, with these first official pictures of the bravely styled new car. And it\'s not only the looks which are cutting edge - it has technology to embarrass even the most advanced rivals, too. The new 5\'s influences are obvious. Its challenging flame-sided look and high bootlid, angular headlamps and wraparound rear lights are from the controversial 7-Series, while the curved snout and drooping bonnet show it\'s a definite blood relation of the recently launched Z4 roadster.
And that unusual body will be the key to the 5-Series\' agility. The shell is made of alloy and lightweight steel, while bulk will be kept down even further thanks to an all-alloy platform and suspension components. This means a weight reduction of around 30 per cent compared to the current model. Behind-the-wheel appeal will also be enhanced by Dynamic Drive suspension, which can be adjusted to suit different road surfaces and conditions.
Another BMW first is Active Front Steering, which will be offered as an option across the range. The electronically controlled system varies the steering transmission ratio depending on speed and driver input. It becomes more direct when travelling slowly, aiding parking and tight manoeuvres. Yet as the pace quickens, the steering gets heavier and less direct, giving a docile response plus greater feel and stability.
Other safety features include Active Cruise Control (ACC) and Adaptive Headlights. The ACC restricts the car from travelling too close to the vehicle in front, while the Adaptive Headlight option means the bi-xenon lamps are controlled by a computer to provide the widest spread of illumination to the intended path. They react to the steering wheel angle, speed and body tilt.
Also set to feature - although not at launch - is Brake Force Display (BFD). It works by illuminating additional stop lights if the driver brakes hard, reacts quickly or behaves unexpectedly, to warn following motorists. The BMW-patented system will be offered in cars from the outset in the US, but European models have to wait until 2004. All will have the software included when built, so initiating the system will be simple.
Inside, the new 5 uses an iDrive system similar to the 7-Series\', with a central knob to control the car\'s electronics, just like a computer mouse. But it will be less complex, with alternative switches around the dash. The car will not have the 7\'s fiddly electronic handbrake, but a conventional manual one. Cockpit gadgetry includes Control Display, an option which projects data such as speed or sat-nav instructions as a hologram on to the windscreen. BMW says this will improve safety, as motorists won\'t have to take their eyes off the road in order to check vital information.
Only three models will be available when the car goes on sale in October - an entry-level 2.2-litre 520i plus a choice of 3.0-litre petrol or diesel 530 variants. Prices are expected to remain similar to those of the current range.
BMW has high hopes for the new 5. UK managing director Jim O\'Donnell said: "It will once more be the benchmark by which others are judged, and we expect greater success than with the outgoing model." An economy-minded 520iA, 2.5-litre 525i and 4.4 V8 545i will follow in 2004. A scorching hot 500bhp V10 M5 will appear later next year, alongside a new Touring.
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There\'s something funky about that design.
Topic: Not quite. Missed the mark. Sorry. (Read 682 times)