DallasBimmer
02-22-2009, 08:01 PM
Hope this is not a repost..:D
Competition is fiercer than ever, so Bavarian Motor Works has put a lot of work into the scheduled 2010 redesign of its midrange cars. Replacing the "E60" generation introduced back in 2004, the new 5-Series, codenamed F10, rolls out beginning in 2009 with more-elegant styling, more interior room, and new tech features, including some that promise to eke out extra mpg without compromising performance.
Based on leaked info and spy photos, the 2010 BMW 5-Series is fractionally longer and wider than current models, but stands a bit lower on a wheelbase stretched by some 3 inches. The extra space between wheel centers should mean somewhat more passenger room, especially in terms of rear legroom. Sources also expect slightly wider axle tracks, which may increase hip room and improve already exemplary handling. The new 5s reportedly weigh about the same as today's models and may even be usefully lighter, as the F10 architecture reportedly makes greater use of structural aluminum than the E60 platform.
Styling of the 2010 BMW 5-Series should be cleaner and more elegant than the current look with its odd mix of curves, hollows, and angles. Sedans get a smoother "bustle" trunk, and all models wear a larger "twin kidney" grille between slimmer headlamp clusters with new "eyebrow" LED running lights, elements lifted from the recent Concept CS design study. Interior layout is much the same, but a new type of glare-resistant display is said to allow smaller shrouds over the gauges and the central dashboard screen. That screen still adjusts navigation and infotainment functions in concert with BMW's much-debated iDrive control knob, a system that will probably be "simplified" once more in an effort to silence the debate.
Sources say the U.S.-market 2010 BMW 5-Series will retain today's base and twin-turbo 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engines. Both powerplants will be mildly tweaked for improved fuel efficiency, but power and torque outputs shouldn't change much. Entry-level 528i models may be renamed 530i, but 535i models should keep their badge. The 550i V8s probably won't change names either, but could swap a 4.8-liter engine for BMW's new twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 to add 40 horsepower and as many lb-ft of torque. The high-performance M5 will likely take a year off, and then return for 2011 with a rumored extra 50 horses--550 in all--via a 5.0-liter V10 bored out to 5.5 liters. A 6-speed manual transmission should remain standard for all models, and all but the M5 will be available with a new 8-speed automatic, replacing a 6-speed unit. A dual-clutch 7-speed automated-manual transmission will remain optional for M5, but might be extended to 550s and/or 6-cylinder models, perhaps as part of a Sport Package option. We also understand that non-M5s will offer one or more of BMW's fuel-saving "Efficient Dynamics" technologies. See "Notable Feature" below for more details.
Not surprisingly, the 2010 BMW 5-Series will carry over the current panoply of electronic driving aids, including standard ABS, antiskid system, traction control, and optional BMW Active Steering with variable ratio and assist. All-wheel drive should again be available for 6-cylinder sedans, and could be newly listed for the 550. Also returning is optional Active Roll Stabilization that uses special suspension members to counteract cornering lean. BMW's Dynamic Drive Control is being whispered as a new 5-Series extra. Already standard in the posh 6-Series coupe and convertible, DDC is basically a "one button Sport mode" that recalibrates suspension, throttle, and transmission responses to suit more-aggressive driving. Wheel sizes are said to be unchanged at 17 inches for 6-cylinder models, 18 for 550s, and 19 for the M5.
Also like current models, the 2010 BMW 5-Series will offer class-expected options such as a navigation system, front- and rear-obstacle detection, keyless entry and engine start, and adaptive cruise control that maintains a set following distance. An available night-vision system with head-up display should return as well. So, too, a lane-departure-warning system, 20-way power front seats, and a heated steering wheel, plus one or more Sport Packages with various handling and interior upgrades.
A Notable Feature of the 2010 BMW 5-Series
BMW announced its "Efficient Dynamics" initiative in 2005, and has since put some of these technologies into showroom models to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. Prime examples include direct fuel injection and the company's Valvetronic variable valve-timing system that uses "by-wire" electronic controls instead of a mechanical throttle. The 2010 BMW 5-Series will likely add other elements of the "Efficient Dynamics" suite. The most probable are a fuel-saving engine start/stop system, like that on many gasoline/electric hybrid vehicles, and a so-called Intelligent Alternator Control that de-couples the alternator drive except when coasting and braking to eliminate that drain on engine power. Another strong prospect is "Active Aero," a series of flaps that adjust to smooth airflow under and through the engine compartment to reduce gas-eating wind resistance at highway speeds. Serving the same end is a possible "active suspension" option that lowers the vehicle slightly at highway speeds--not a new idea, but now very timely with skyrocketing gas prices. Of course, less weight would also help eke out extra mpg, as would the higher gearing made possible by the new 8-speed automatic. All this sounds very promising, but we'll have to wait and see how much thriftier the new 5-Series actually is in both EPA ratings and Consumer Guide's real-world testing.
We don't rule out a diesel version of the 2010 BMW 5-Series. This would likely be a 535d sedan with a twin-turbo 6-cylinder that allegedly makes some 280 horsepower and thumping torque of over 400 lb-ft. Like most European automakers, BMW is high on diesel power for its comparatively greater fuel thrift and lower CO2 emissions. Indeed, BMW will soon add an "oil burner" option to its 3-Series compact-car lineup. In both cases, the engine is cleaned up to meet tough U.S. emissions limits with "AdBlue" technology. This uses urea injection into the exhaust stream and a special catalytic converter to leave mainly water vapor and nitrogen at the tailpipe. It's expensive engineering, and a stiff sticker price could limit the U.S. "take rate" as much as the higher cost of diesel fuel. Again, it will be interesting to see what happens.
The same applies to a possible hybrid 5-Series using the 2-Mode gasoline/electric drive developed by BMW in concert with General Motors and the former DaimlerChrysler. Though this idea hasn't shown up in any of the intelligence we've received, a hybrid 5 would make a nifty counter to the Lexus GS 450h and could conceivably be out before archrivals Audi and Mercedes field their own midsize hybrid cars. If or when BMW does take the plunge, you heard it here first.
Buying Advice for the 2010 BMW 5-Series
BMW has built a brand image that virtually guarantees strong demand for almost anything it offers. So unless the market goes completely bonkers--and let's hope it doesn't--the redesigned 5-Series should sell as well as the current line. But BMW isn't the only golden boy in the premium-class arena, and rivals are spoiling for a fight with the new 5. A redesigned Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class are due out by 2010. And the just-redesigned Cadillac CTS is already a Consumer 2008 Best Buy versus the currently unrated 5-Series. The Consumer Guide 2008 Recommended Infiniti Ms have attractions of their own, as do Lexus GS models. The obvious moral here is to drive them all before you decide--unless you're crazy for Bimmers and won't settle for a substitute. Just don't expect much in the way of incentives--unless the market goes completely bonkers.
2010 BMW 5-Series Release Date: European sources say the redesigned 5-Series will arrive in 2010, but don't seem to know which month. We suspect the U.S. versions will bow late enough in the calendar year to be designated 2011 models, though BMW might get 'em here sooner. We'll keep you posted.
2010 BMW 5-Series First Test Drive: Media-preview timing is just as murky now as the on-sale schedule, but we hope to get acquainted with the new 5-Series by mid-summer of 2010.
2010 BMW 5-Series Prices: Excluding the specialized, limited-edition M5 hot-rod, 5-Series prices now range from $44,300 to $58,500. We'd guesstimate the 2010 spread at $46,500-$61,000, give or take a thou, keeping in mind the weak dollar and fast-rising costs for both raw materials and shipping.
Competition is fiercer than ever, so Bavarian Motor Works has put a lot of work into the scheduled 2010 redesign of its midrange cars. Replacing the "E60" generation introduced back in 2004, the new 5-Series, codenamed F10, rolls out beginning in 2009 with more-elegant styling, more interior room, and new tech features, including some that promise to eke out extra mpg without compromising performance.
Based on leaked info and spy photos, the 2010 BMW 5-Series is fractionally longer and wider than current models, but stands a bit lower on a wheelbase stretched by some 3 inches. The extra space between wheel centers should mean somewhat more passenger room, especially in terms of rear legroom. Sources also expect slightly wider axle tracks, which may increase hip room and improve already exemplary handling. The new 5s reportedly weigh about the same as today's models and may even be usefully lighter, as the F10 architecture reportedly makes greater use of structural aluminum than the E60 platform.
Styling of the 2010 BMW 5-Series should be cleaner and more elegant than the current look with its odd mix of curves, hollows, and angles. Sedans get a smoother "bustle" trunk, and all models wear a larger "twin kidney" grille between slimmer headlamp clusters with new "eyebrow" LED running lights, elements lifted from the recent Concept CS design study. Interior layout is much the same, but a new type of glare-resistant display is said to allow smaller shrouds over the gauges and the central dashboard screen. That screen still adjusts navigation and infotainment functions in concert with BMW's much-debated iDrive control knob, a system that will probably be "simplified" once more in an effort to silence the debate.
Sources say the U.S.-market 2010 BMW 5-Series will retain today's base and twin-turbo 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engines. Both powerplants will be mildly tweaked for improved fuel efficiency, but power and torque outputs shouldn't change much. Entry-level 528i models may be renamed 530i, but 535i models should keep their badge. The 550i V8s probably won't change names either, but could swap a 4.8-liter engine for BMW's new twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 to add 40 horsepower and as many lb-ft of torque. The high-performance M5 will likely take a year off, and then return for 2011 with a rumored extra 50 horses--550 in all--via a 5.0-liter V10 bored out to 5.5 liters. A 6-speed manual transmission should remain standard for all models, and all but the M5 will be available with a new 8-speed automatic, replacing a 6-speed unit. A dual-clutch 7-speed automated-manual transmission will remain optional for M5, but might be extended to 550s and/or 6-cylinder models, perhaps as part of a Sport Package option. We also understand that non-M5s will offer one or more of BMW's fuel-saving "Efficient Dynamics" technologies. See "Notable Feature" below for more details.
Not surprisingly, the 2010 BMW 5-Series will carry over the current panoply of electronic driving aids, including standard ABS, antiskid system, traction control, and optional BMW Active Steering with variable ratio and assist. All-wheel drive should again be available for 6-cylinder sedans, and could be newly listed for the 550. Also returning is optional Active Roll Stabilization that uses special suspension members to counteract cornering lean. BMW's Dynamic Drive Control is being whispered as a new 5-Series extra. Already standard in the posh 6-Series coupe and convertible, DDC is basically a "one button Sport mode" that recalibrates suspension, throttle, and transmission responses to suit more-aggressive driving. Wheel sizes are said to be unchanged at 17 inches for 6-cylinder models, 18 for 550s, and 19 for the M5.
Also like current models, the 2010 BMW 5-Series will offer class-expected options such as a navigation system, front- and rear-obstacle detection, keyless entry and engine start, and adaptive cruise control that maintains a set following distance. An available night-vision system with head-up display should return as well. So, too, a lane-departure-warning system, 20-way power front seats, and a heated steering wheel, plus one or more Sport Packages with various handling and interior upgrades.
A Notable Feature of the 2010 BMW 5-Series
BMW announced its "Efficient Dynamics" initiative in 2005, and has since put some of these technologies into showroom models to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. Prime examples include direct fuel injection and the company's Valvetronic variable valve-timing system that uses "by-wire" electronic controls instead of a mechanical throttle. The 2010 BMW 5-Series will likely add other elements of the "Efficient Dynamics" suite. The most probable are a fuel-saving engine start/stop system, like that on many gasoline/electric hybrid vehicles, and a so-called Intelligent Alternator Control that de-couples the alternator drive except when coasting and braking to eliminate that drain on engine power. Another strong prospect is "Active Aero," a series of flaps that adjust to smooth airflow under and through the engine compartment to reduce gas-eating wind resistance at highway speeds. Serving the same end is a possible "active suspension" option that lowers the vehicle slightly at highway speeds--not a new idea, but now very timely with skyrocketing gas prices. Of course, less weight would also help eke out extra mpg, as would the higher gearing made possible by the new 8-speed automatic. All this sounds very promising, but we'll have to wait and see how much thriftier the new 5-Series actually is in both EPA ratings and Consumer Guide's real-world testing.
We don't rule out a diesel version of the 2010 BMW 5-Series. This would likely be a 535d sedan with a twin-turbo 6-cylinder that allegedly makes some 280 horsepower and thumping torque of over 400 lb-ft. Like most European automakers, BMW is high on diesel power for its comparatively greater fuel thrift and lower CO2 emissions. Indeed, BMW will soon add an "oil burner" option to its 3-Series compact-car lineup. In both cases, the engine is cleaned up to meet tough U.S. emissions limits with "AdBlue" technology. This uses urea injection into the exhaust stream and a special catalytic converter to leave mainly water vapor and nitrogen at the tailpipe. It's expensive engineering, and a stiff sticker price could limit the U.S. "take rate" as much as the higher cost of diesel fuel. Again, it will be interesting to see what happens.
The same applies to a possible hybrid 5-Series using the 2-Mode gasoline/electric drive developed by BMW in concert with General Motors and the former DaimlerChrysler. Though this idea hasn't shown up in any of the intelligence we've received, a hybrid 5 would make a nifty counter to the Lexus GS 450h and could conceivably be out before archrivals Audi and Mercedes field their own midsize hybrid cars. If or when BMW does take the plunge, you heard it here first.
Buying Advice for the 2010 BMW 5-Series
BMW has built a brand image that virtually guarantees strong demand for almost anything it offers. So unless the market goes completely bonkers--and let's hope it doesn't--the redesigned 5-Series should sell as well as the current line. But BMW isn't the only golden boy in the premium-class arena, and rivals are spoiling for a fight with the new 5. A redesigned Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class are due out by 2010. And the just-redesigned Cadillac CTS is already a Consumer 2008 Best Buy versus the currently unrated 5-Series. The Consumer Guide 2008 Recommended Infiniti Ms have attractions of their own, as do Lexus GS models. The obvious moral here is to drive them all before you decide--unless you're crazy for Bimmers and won't settle for a substitute. Just don't expect much in the way of incentives--unless the market goes completely bonkers.
2010 BMW 5-Series Release Date: European sources say the redesigned 5-Series will arrive in 2010, but don't seem to know which month. We suspect the U.S. versions will bow late enough in the calendar year to be designated 2011 models, though BMW might get 'em here sooner. We'll keep you posted.
2010 BMW 5-Series First Test Drive: Media-preview timing is just as murky now as the on-sale schedule, but we hope to get acquainted with the new 5-Series by mid-summer of 2010.
2010 BMW 5-Series Prices: Excluding the specialized, limited-edition M5 hot-rod, 5-Series prices now range from $44,300 to $58,500. We'd guesstimate the 2010 spread at $46,500-$61,000, give or take a thou, keeping in mind the weak dollar and fast-rising costs for both raw materials and shipping.
