Winter testing is in full swing and our spy photographers' latest catch
is the 2011 BMW 5 Series. We've seen test mules on the streets of Germany
before, so the prototypes caught in the Arctic Circle unsurprisingly look
much the same. With such heavy camouflage, there isn't much to see, but
we're not expecting big changes in the styling department anyway.
2011 Full Preview
The development 5 series, stealthily referred to as the F10 in BMW code
language, will arrive as a 2011 model sometime in late 2010, we hope. And it
will see BMW go very turbo, as it begins to rely on turbocharging to
maintain or increase power while keeping the weight down. Although the car
will also be slightly larger, BMW will be keeping the body mass down with
the use of aluminum body panels in the roof, fenders and other body panels.
2011 Body Design
The 5's wheelbase will grow a couple of inches, but the aim is to
maintain current mass through the use of smaller, turbocharged engines and
extensive aluminum in the body's exterior panels, such as closing panels,
fenders, and roof.
Control-arm front suspensions will replace the MacPherson struts. Options
include the Integral Steering package just introduced on the 7, which adds
electronically controlled rear steering to the familiar active front
steering. Adaptive damping also will be available. Optional drivers' aids
will include follow-to-stop adaptive cruise control, sideview cameras,
head-up display, and night vision with pedestrian recognition.
BMW now talks of a "backbone" rather than a platform. The term refers to
the firewall, suspension, and floor, in various wheelbases. The F10, and the
next 6 Series, will share its backbone with the 2009 7 Series and the 2010
Progressive Activity Sedan. For a preview of the switchgear, instruments,
iDrive, and seats of a 2010 PAS, 2011 5 Series, or 2013 6 Series, look at a
2009 7 Series.
Versatile as this backbone is, it has limits. It was deemed too small for
the CS four-door coupe concept, which is why production was shelved for
excessive cost and reaching, in these hard times, for too few potential
buyers.
2011 Powertrain Design
The range of engines available for the 5 series will include a 3.0 liter,
twin-turbo, straight six banger for the 540i. The 550i will come with a 4.4
liter twin-turbo boosted V8. There's also a twin-turbo clean diesel coming
and the M5 will be knocked back to a turbo V8 from its current V10 excess.
There'll also be hybrid offerings for the new 5 series which BMW will be
testing the market with first in the upcoming X6 and 7 series.
Options Available
For options packages, you can look at the current 7 series for a glimpse
of the future, which includes adaptive damping, integral steering, side-view
cameras, and a night vision aid for recognizing pedestrians in the dark.
The F10 will be sharing a platform with the 7 series and the next generation
6 series. BMW calls this a backbone rather than a platform and bases its
backbone architecture on the firewall, suspension and floor in various
wheelbase configurations. Which doesn't do much to dissuade us from
believing that the BMW 5 series is just a 7 series shrunk down a couple of
notches. Or maybe it's the other way around.
Most of the upgrades to this new midrange sedan will be hidden under the
sheet metal. There's a good chance we'll see top-of-the-line versions of the
2011 BMW 5 Series that feature the same twin-turbo V8 introduced in the 2009
BMW X6. With 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, the 4.4-liter V8
should give the 2011 550i more than enough power to hang with its German
competition. Some rumors also suggest that an eight-speed automatic
transmission will be introduced.
Internal FlexRay Control System
On the tech side, this 5 Series will be the third car in the BMW lineup
to use FlexRay technology for the vehicle's internal control systems. The
system is designed to allow much faster communications among all the various
vehicle systems.
FlexRay was first introduced by the new-generation X5, although only the
vehicle's electronic damping control system exploits the faster processing
speed. The upcoming 2010 BMW 7 Series is expected to use FlexRay technology
for at least a dozen systems, so the 5 Series will most likely go even
further. Expect to see even more driver adjustability built into the car as
well as additional integration among systems like Active Steering Control,
Electronic Differential Control and the usual traction and stability control
systems. Hopefully it will add up to a sedan that's more fun to drive
instead of one that feels constrained by too many computer controls.
When the new 5-Series finally arrives at dealerships, it will be available
with the same twin-turbo V8 found in the X6. Just as in X6-guise, the
twin-turbo V8 will make about 400 horsepower in the 5-Series, which would
put it in the same neighborhood as BMW's E39 M5.
It is also believed that the base 5-Series will be available with the
same twin-turbo six found in the BMW 335i and 135i.
Early
Conclusions
The next-generation 5-series is expected to feature an eight-speed
automatic transmission with an all-wheel drive option being available. Check
out the latest 2011 BMW 5 Series info at
BMW.com Of the current
model it is said "It is plush, the motorized equivalent of an exclusive
condominium. It is prestigious." says
Washington Post The
new 5 will also have Park Distance Control and an around view monitor
system, similar to Infiniti's Around View Monitor.