2017 BMW 5 SERIES FIRST LOOK

2017 BMW 5 SERIES FIRST LOOK BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES

Ready or not, semi-automated driving features are here and in the case of the all-new 2017 BMW 5 Series sedan, they combine with pioneering mobility solutions to create an umbrella of protection and convenience for its owners.

Its list of eye-opening advancements includes Remote Control Parking enabling drivers to park in narrow spaces without the hassle of getting in or out of the vehicle, Remote 3D View providing three-dimensional views of the vehicle’s surrounding area allowing owner’s to check on their parked car via a smartphone app, ParkNow and On-Street Parking Information helping not only to locate parking spaces and garages but reserving and paying for them, an adaptive navigation system which learns driver preferences, and BMW Connected which interrogates your smartphone for information such as addresses and calendar entries to become a personal assistant seamlessly integrating the 5 Series with your digital life.

Slightly larger yet lighter thanks to the use of aluminum and other lightweight metals, this 7^th generation 5 Series boasts greater rear seat space and a trunk capable of carrying 4 golf bags.  A new double wishbone front suspension supports excellent steering feel and road feedback while the new 5-link rear is lighter and stiffer creating an excellent overall balance between agility and comfort.

BMW engineers aimed to make the new 5 Series more agile and precise, yet without compromising the comfort which is the car’s hallmark.  Even greater comfort can be achieved via the optional Adaptive Drive System combining Dynamic Damper Control and active roll stabilization countering bump disturbances and automatically adjusting to a wide range of driving conditions enhancing handling safety and stability.

A new version of the optional Integral Active Steering which steers the rear wheels for added agility, stability and comfort can now be paired for the first time with xDrive all-wheel drive.  A racier personality can be achieved via the M Sport Package, with a lowered sport suspension and 19” or 20” wheels wrapped in uprated rubber.  The new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder in the 530i is a turbocharged, direct-injected engine generating 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque capable of a 0-to-60mph run of 5.8 seconds with xDrive.

The range-topping engine can be found in the 540i; a 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder churning out 335 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque capable of a 4.7-second sprint to 60mph with xDrive, 7/10^th of second quicker than before.  Both the 530i and 540i sedans are geared through an 8-speed automatic.

The 2017 BMW 530i is available from $51,200, while the 540i xDrive model starts at $58,750, plus $995 Destination and Handling.