Has the champ returned? BMW’s new 5 Series is imminent.

It’s quite scary to think that the current F10 5 Series has been with us for more than five years now. Many can’t argue with the fact that this iteration of the car was regarded amongst the best in its class. In fact, it took the competition some years to build cars that bettered the current 5 Series and as a result, we’ve started to forget about the gem. That will change soon enough as BMW is about to launch the latest 5 Series (named the G30) into the South African market. We don’t have all the nitty gritty’s at the moment but what we can divulge is this:

Completely new design:

Looking at the press images from BMW, it’s safe to say that the G30 looks like a baby 7 Series. Is this a bad thing? If the 7 were not a looker maybe, but since the 7 looks great than no, it’s not a bad thing at all. The front end looks wider, bolder and fuller compared to the outgoing car whereas the rear has a much sleeker design to it. BMW have been infamous for their controversial designs of previous 5 Series models, such as the E60, but it seems they went the safer route this time. The new car is slightly larger too,  so tall people can enjoy the rear even more. Another shared design element with the 7 Series is the active shutters behind the kidney grille of the car. This makes the car more efficient as the car can cut a cleaner line through the air when the shutters are closed. The G30 is also up to 100kg lighter than the F10 depending on the specification of the car.

Inside the G30 we see a completely new cabin that is elegant and luxurious. A large infotainment screen centralises the design creating an appealing look. Of course the car is going to be filled with lots of technology through the use of apps, as we’ve seen in most modern BMW’s. Word on the street is that we can look forward to BMW’s touch control system and the latest iteration of  iDrive. Semi autonomous driving aids are also said to be present in the new 5 Series, something we’ve experienced in the 7 Series.  If those systems are anything like the ones offered in the 7 Series, BMW would’ve done a good job.

xDrive:

In the overseas market, certain models of the new 5 Series are available with xDrive, making them more grippy and confidence inspiring on the road. An exciting model offered abroad is the M550i xDrive, which has the 4.4 litre Bi Turbocharged V8 engine. With xDrive equipped in this model, it is sure to be a monster.

Engines to be offered:

Overseas the G30 5 Series is available as a 530i, 540i, 530e, 520d, 530d and M550i xDrive. As mentioned we aren’t sure what models will be gracing South African soil but we eagerly await this car. Has the champ returned? Only time will tell.