BMW Updates 5-Series; Adds M5 Touring

Despite being one of the biggest automotive exhibitions in the world, BMW hasdecided to forgo Motor City to introduce the latest update for its 5-Series luxury sedan. On Tuesday (the show’s media days were still going on), the automaker released pictures of the updated 5-Series and a new model that will join the performance ranks, the M5 Touring.

It’s a mild facelift for the 5-Series sedan and touring, with the cars receiving new bumpers, a flush appearance for the grille, and LED tail lamps. Inside, BMW redesigned the door panels, and has equipped automatic models with the new ergonomic, linkage-free gearbox that debuted in the latest X5. BMW has also improved the iDrive system, offering eight programmable menus to make the system more intuitive.

In terms of technology, the new 5-Series offers more high-techgadgets than ever before. Alongside the Head Up Display, buyers will have the choice of night vision and a lane departure warning system which alerts the driver if he or she crosses over a marked line without signaling. The adaptive cruise control system has been upgraded with a Stop and Go mode, capable of bringing the vehicle to a complete stop and maintaining control over its speed in traffic. BMW has not yet announced which of these features will be available in North America.

BMW has taken its quest to produce efficient vehicles one step further with the update 5-Series, however, by fitting brand new or significantly updated engines in all vehicles. One of the big advancements is the use of Piezoinjector technology on models with gasoline direct injection. This highly precise fuel injector was often found on performance diesel engines, but now will benefit the BMW engine range by offering improved control over the fuel injection process.

BMW also added a new development called Efficient Dynamics. By using a special type of alternator, it works by charging the car’s battery when engine over-run is detected, taking what would otherwise be wasted energy and converting it into electricity for the battery, always keeping it fully charged. This reduces the drag on the engine under normal conditions, reducing fuel consumption and emissions levels by an average of three percent.

Admittedly, not everyone is interested in a vehicle’s efficiency, but most peoples’ ears perk up when the conversation turns to performance. With the 5-Series update, BMW will make a return to the superwagon market with the new M5 Touring. Powered by the same 507 horsepower 5.0-liter V10 engine and SMG seven-speed sequential paddleshift gearbox, the wagon is capable of propelling a family and their luggage to 60 mph from standstill in just 4.7 seconds, just 0.1 second behind the sedan. Top speed is still restricted to 155 mph, though. BMW has not announced whether North Americans will be getting the M5 Touring, but it will be producing it in both left and right hand drive. The new 5-Series will begin production in March.