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BMW 5 SERIES MEDIA RESPONSE. NEW SEDAN DOMINATES COMPETITORS IN ALL GROUP TESTS.

Shortly before the showroom introduction of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan in mid-February, the first test drive reports and group tests appeared in German and international car magazines. To arrive at their verdicts, media representatives recorded comprehensive impressions of their drives, took detailed measurements and conducted handling tests on standardised tracks. The result was clear each time: the new BMW 5 Series won one victory after another. Updated only about a year ago, even the Mercedes-Benz E-Class proved near powerless against the latest generation of the most successful executive sedan in the world. This issue of Product News covers what journalists and experts are writing about the new BMW 5 Series Sedan and how they are rating its characteristics compared to its main competitors.

First contact: customer interest in the new BMW 5 Series Sedan has been very considerable. (Pictured: exhibit at BMW Welt.)

At a glance: – New BMW 5 Series Sedan in the

showrooms since 11 February.

– International automotive press full of praise for the new BMW 5 Series.

– New BMW 5 Series: “Performance up, fuel consumption down.”

– “Auto Zeitung” puts BMW 5 Series in the lead for all “ride comfort” criteria.

– BMW 5 Series wins Connected Car

Award for best-in-class connectivity.

– BMW 5 Series surpasses the very high level of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

– Audi A6 due for renewal; lacks up-to-date driver assistance systems.

– “What Car?” (UK): “The king is dead. Long live the king.”

Enthusiastic test drivers: the new BMW 5 Series is being celebrated, and not just in the print media. Numerous videos with first-drive impressions are already online (source: “What Car?” YouTube channel).

Expectations surpassed, awards received even before launch. Much was expected of the successor to the most successful executive sedan in the world, given the high standard of the generation that preceded it. Nevertheless, the new BMW 5 Series has managed to raise the bar considerably further for almost all criteria. This was emphasised by several accolades awarded to the new BMW 5 Series even before it became available in the showrooms. Thus, the readers of the two largest European technology magazines, “Auto Bild” and “Computer Bild”, voted the new sedan the car with the best connectivity and gave it the Connected Car Award. Now, the results of group tests undertaken by the three leading German car magazines, “Auto Bild”, “auto motor und sport” and “Auto Zeitung”, which compared the 5 Series to its core competitors, are also in. The result is clear in each of them: the new BMW 5 Series is once more the benchmark by which all other competitors have to be measured.

PRODUCT NEWS #05 MARCH 2017

The most prominent competitors are at a very high level, yet the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class have to concede defeat to the new BMW 5 Series Sedan in the first group tests conducted by the three leading German car magazines.

A hit with the testers: the six-cylinder in-line engine in the BMW 530d combines tremendous power and superior refinement. And it beats its competitors by some margin in terms of fuel consumption and emissions.

“auto motor und sport”: new suspension for plenty of fun on the road. In its 4/2017 issue, renowned German car magazine “auto motor und sport” pitted the new BMW 530d (195 kW/265 hp) against its core competitors, the Mercedes-Benz E 350 d (190 kW/258 hp) and the Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro (200 kW/272 hp). The BMW won easily in the “body”, “comfort”, “powertrain”, “environment” and “costs” categories. The Mercedes E-Class managed to snag only one win, in the “safety” category – where it was a single point ahead of the BMW. In production since April 2011, the current Audi A6 benefits from an all-wheel drive system included as standard and wins in the “driving characteristics” category as well as – tied with the BMW 5 Series – the “powertrain” category. The overall verdict on the BMW 5 Series Sedan, however, is clear: “This is what winners look like.” How “auto motor und sport” rates the new BMW 5 Series Sedan. “The 5 Series is a comfortable and roomy driver’s car with an infectious sense of sportiness – a well-earned victory.” “It only takes until the first bend to establish that the new suspension with its double wishbones at the front and five-link rear axle ensures plenty of fun on the road.” “The BMW’s damping quality is on a par with that of the Mercedes. While slightly stiffer, its suspension is less tottery, with a classic sense of authenticity.” “The BMW is a big-screen performer. This even includes driftability for anyone keen to play with the steering’s limits.” “Watching BMW consistently improve on its already first-class infotainment is impressive. Other manufacturers have been churning out entire model series with dated electronics for far too long.” “Best BMW standard, of course. But that is not all. Available parking spaces nearby? This car is aware of them. A speed limit coming up in 500 metres? The 5 Series will alert you to it.” “Another hallmark BMW feature is the engine. And while it runs smoothly, it remains perfectly audible underneath its sound- and heat-proof cover.” “Performance up, fuel consumption down? Yep.” “The BMW test car weighs in at 1,792 kilogrammes – almost 60 kg less than the previous 530d, 125 kg less than the A6 and 124 kg less than the E 350 d.”

The driver’s choice, with an infectious sense of sportiness: agility and handling won top marks. But the new BMW 5 Series also excels in terms of comfort.

The luggage compartment has mostly flat surfaces and provides the class standard 530 litres of storage space …

“Auto Bild”: “Now the 5 Series is the name of the game.” Just like “auto motor und sport”, the German “Auto Bild” – Europe’s best-selling car magazine – let the BMW 530d battle it out against the Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro and the Mercedes E 350 d (issue 5/2017). And once again, the new 5 Series put its competitors in their places while winning in six out of seven categories. But the editors were equally impressed with the design of the new BMW 5 Series, as it “strikes a balance between wiry athleticism and business-style elegance” without making its predecessor look dated. The weight advantage of the new BMW 5 Series becomes apparent while driving, the magazine’s report said. According to the testers, the E-Class especially makes its high weight felt, as it is 128 kilogrammes heavier than the BMW. The Audi A6 failed to take top spot in any of the test categories. How “Auto Bild” rates the new BMW 5 Series Sedan (530d). “The new BMW is off to a dream start: in its first test, it shows Audi and Mercedes what it’s made of.” “While not looking all that new, it is indeed the new name of the game in the executive class. Once you drive it, you will not want to leave it.” “The spirited, fuel-efficient engine bridges the gap between sportiness and comfort. Well done!” “Driving into a bend, braking, shifting down two gears with the paddles, accelerating at the apex and immediately regaining full throttle – the 5 Series can do this, and it’s fun.” “The BMW transmits its unbelievable torque of 620 Newton metres straight to the road when the Mercedes is already losing composure on its front axle.”

… which can be expanded in a particularly flexible manner by folding down the 40/20/40-split rear backrests.

The A6 has to make do with third place: in its sixth year of production, the Audi is no longer quite up to date in terms of ride comfort and driver assistance systems. The testers unanimously praise the car’s mature quality level while criticising the high prices for the A6 3.0 TDI quattro test car.

Volvo S90: According to “Auto Zeitung” (6/2017), the Swedish car lacks a smooth six-cylinder engine and general refinement.

“The BMW consumes 6.6 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres – despite running a three-litre straight-six engine with 265 hp! To put this into perspective, the Audi requires 7.2 litres, the Mercedes 7.0.” “Conspicuous: the superb resolution of the displays.” “BMW 5 Series: no one else integrates CarPlay as seamlessly.” “… the 5 Series also has the edge on ergonomics: individual menu items can be selected on a touchscreen or controlled via gestures.” How “Auto Bild” rates the new BMW 520d. In a second group test, “Auto Bild” compared the BMW 520d to the Mercedes-Benz E 220 d, Audi A6 2.0 TDI and Volvo S90 D4 (issue 8/2017). The new BMW 5 Series came out victorious in four out of seven test categories and won not just in the product characteristics ranking but was also crowned the winner in terms of value for money. The Mercedes, with a seven-point deficit, ended up in second place. 23 points behind the BMW, the Audi A6 again only managed third place, while the Volvo S90 launched last year came fourth, 46 points adrift behind the BMW. This is what the testers had to say about the new BMW 520d: “The 5 Series confirms its leading position in this class. Dynamic and well-balanced.” “BMW has designed the new 5 Series to be elegant and understated, with clever details – a complete success.” “Everything gleams and sparkles, with noticeably upgraded workmanship.” (BMW 5 Series.) “The strength of the BMW fitted with the four-wheel steering system (1,250 euro) clearly lies in its agility and joyful driving experience. The way it drives, steers and brakes – it’s just great fun. And it feels unbelievably fast and lightweight.” “As BMW has no air suspension for the new 5 Series, the 520d used in this test had the optional Dynamic Damper Control for 1,190 euro. It sits squarely on the road, delivers a smooth ride and wafts gently even over poor surfaces. Magnificent …” “…the user interface (Mercedes E-Class) with its overly nested menus fails to match the tidy logic of the BMW. The same goes for the Audi with its MMI system and an eight-inch screen that looks relatively modest by comparison.” “The engineers have managed to tame the throaty sound of the 190 hp diesel, making it feel very nimble and lively.”

Sporting spirit highlighted: the M Sport package provides additional visual clues to the sporty driving characteristics of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan.

Best seat in the house: “A high-class interior, like in the 7 Series”, wrote “Stern” magazine on 4 December 2016, while comparing cabin size and material quality to those of the luxury class.

“Auto Zeitung”: “The BMW 530d is … the benchmark.” The German car magazine “Auto Zeitung”, in its 5/2017 issue, also tested the new BMW 530d against its main competitors, the Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro and the Mercedes E 350 d. And the verdict in their newsroom was once again unambiguous: the BMW is a clear winner. Not only did the BMW 5 Series take victory in every category – with 34 top marks in the various individual rankings (Mercedes 5, Audi 4 individual wins), the result of this group test was abundantly clear. Unlike in previous comparisons, the Mercedes test car was not fitted with an optional air suspension but with a set-up combining steel springs with selective dampers, which likely played its part in the underwhelming outcome for this Mercedes. How “Auto Zeitung” rates the new BMW 5 Series Sedan (530d). “The new BMW 530d is the current benchmark. Not only is it superior to its predecessor in every respect, but its impressive comfort, agile handling, roomy body and spot-on price tag leave the E-Class as high and dry as the A6.” “Despite being only a finger’s width longer, taller and wider than its predecessor, the new 5 Series has considerably improved on spaciousness and versatility.” “While the V6 diesels in the A6 and the E-Class are grumpily going about their business, the straight-six in the 5 Series is not only considerably less audible in the front when called upon to perform, but also excels with exemplary low vibration.” “The eight-speed automatic transmission (BMW 5 Series) performs extremely smooth and fast gear changes. The nine-speed automatic in the E 350 d requires considerably more time to synchronise transmission and engine.”

On the market for less than a year: the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is still relatively fresh and provides an overall package that appears quite difficult to beat. But the media agree: the BMW 5 Series Sedan is better.

The benchmark for seats: The testers from “Auto Zeitung” note that neither the individually contoured seats in the Audi nor the Mercedes sports seats combine relaxation and firm support as expertly as the comfort seats in the BMW.

By no means bringing up the rear: “The outboard rear seats are nearly as nice, with well-executed ergonomic contouring and decent legroom”, writes US magazine “Car and Driver” (14/02/2017).

The modern Mercedes-Benz E-Class cockpit is less functional than that of the BMW 5 Series. This is the conclusion “Auto Zeitung” (6/2017) came to in its verdict about the menu layout and also the controls: “… the tiny touchpad is fiddly to operate.” (Note: in the steering wheel spokes.)

“Although the new E-Cass has so far looked respectable on the handling test track, it does not stand a chance against the new 5 Series.” “The A6 is 175 kg heavier on the front axle than the new 5 Series, while the E-Class carries an extra 140 kg of weight there.” “The BMW is a true pioneer in terms of its infotainment concept. Not just because the new touchscreen and gesture control add new input methods in addition to the iDrive rotary/push button control, but because the engineers have managed to expand the menu with new content and functions while keeping things tidy.” “Easy operation, intuitive structure: offered neither by the A6 with its complicated maze of buttons on the centre console nor the E-Class with its confusing menu paths.” “The seats are another area where BMW is defining the benchmark with the new 5 Series.” (Test car: comfort seats with massage function.) “The BMW can pack a good 100 kg more onto its axles than its rivals.” “The new BMW 5 Series is more affordable than the A6 and the E-Class, with its entry-level model as well as with all the relevant extras present in this test car.” How “Auto Zeitung” rates the new BMW 520d. As a follow-up to its six-cylinder diesel comparison, “Auto Zeitung” also tested the BMW 520d against the Audi A6 2.0 TDI, Mercedes-Benz E 220 d and Volvo S90 D4 (issue 6/2017). Once again, the BMW wins in all the product characteristic categories, becoming the overall winner by a considerable margin. It is followed by Mercedes (2nd), Audi (3rd) and Volvo (4th). Here are some of the key verdicts by the test editors: “Thus the BMW 520d Steptronic rightfully leaves all competitors behind and is the current benchmark for executive class cars up to 200 hp.” “The BMW has retained the superb response of its springs and dampers … the Audi and Mercedes models with air suspension occasionally stumble over small obstacles at low speed.” “But the BMW has achieved true greatness in terms of noise insulation. The 520d is significantly more silent than its predecessor as it glides through the breeze. Tyre and suspension noises also remain pleasingly restrained.” “The BMW however demonstrates that you can have your cake and eat it. Its 190 hp turbo diesel is not just effectively insulated but also remarkably refined.” “The turbo diesel in the 520d owes its confident power delivery to an eight-speed automatic transmission that has been perfectly matched to its characteristics. Even the elegant performance of the nine-speed automatic gearbox in the E 220 d lacks the precision and accuracy of its BMW counterpart …” “The BMW’s intelligent lightweight design pays off, and not just in terms of fuel efficiency. It also impacts on dynamic performance. As with the large six-cylinder version, the entry-level 5 Series puts 120 kg less weight on the front axle than its three rivals. Its balanced weight distribution makes the 520d unbeatable on the handling test track.” “And when it comes to the controls, the BMW even provides first-class service: its combination of gesture control, touchscreen operation, voice inputs and the traditional iDrive rotary/push button is the absolute benchmark. Not content with putting functionality first, BMW has also managed to create a logical menu structure.” “Even though BMW is charging 2,290 Euro for its comfort seats with perfectly adjustable contours, superior comfort and solid lateral support, they are worth every cent. And while the seats offered by its competitors also come at a premium, none of them feel as relaxing as the ones in the BMW.” “The BMW places its driver further away from the door than the Mercedes, and the 5 Series, thanks to numerous adjustment settings in the seats, provides more legroom than the Audi and Volvo.”

German Autobahn preferred: “You really need a derestricted German Autobahn to get the best out of this beast …” is how the British “Daily Mail” (02/12/2016) describes the performance of the new BMW 5 Series.

“Süddeutsche Zeitung”: “The polar opposite of a diva: the BMW is free of airs and graces – and full of thrilling emotions.” (26/11/2016)

“The Independent”: “Jag [i.e. the Jaguar XF] provides more space for the knees back there, however, but while there’s enough leather around the cabin to start a fetishists’ convention the overall cabin ambience doesn’t match the class of the Beemer’s.” (UK, 31/01/2017)

Extremely enthusiastic reception in other international media as well. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan has also left an overwhelmingly positive impression on the international media. Motoring journalists from all over the world who have already had an opportunity to test the new executive sedan have been extremely enthusiastic. The combination of agile and sporting driving characteristics and supreme ride comfort has been especially appreciated. “The outboard rear seats are nearly as nice [as the front seats], with well-executed ergonomic contouring and decent legroom.” (“Car and Driver”, USA, 14/02/2017) “The king is dead. Long live the king.” (“What Car?”, UK, 13/02/2017) “This is a car you can place accurately and drive very swiftly indeed without those sharp intakes of breath as the road ahead tightens, narrows and swoops out of view.” (“Top Gear”, UK, 11/02/2017) “The eight-speed gearbox in the BMW is slightly smoother with its shifts [than the nine-speed transmission in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class] and has an uncanny knack of always being in the right gear at the right time.” (“What Car?”, UK, 13/02/2017) “The seventh generation of BMW’s business-class barnstormer sets the benchmark for executive travel. It combines sure-footed, dynamic performance and the latest self-driving technology and gadgets with sober, old-school comfort and familiarity.” (“Daily Mail”, UK, 02/12/2016) “… a private buyer can expect this E-Class to cost £2700 less than the equivalent 5 Series. … But for a bit more money, you can get an executive car that’s beyond superb – it’s one of the very best cars there is in any class. BMW has done it again.” (“The Independent”, UK, 18/01/2017) “Can a car be called perfect? This effusive adjective might be quite appropriate when describing the seventh 5 Series.” (“Stern.de”, Germany, 04/12/2016) “Despite plentiful sporting appeal, the 5 Series has none of the skittishness of a thoroughbred racer and exudes unshakeable composure throughout.” (“Stern.de”, Germany, 04/12/2016) “The total package is one that impresses.” (“MotorTrend”, USA, 30/11/2016) “However, we were surprised by new qualities such as the very low noise level and smooth suspension.” (“Süddeutsche.de”, Germany, 30/11/2016) “More than any other sedan in this class, the new BMW 5 Series makes you wish for an empty road ahead.” (“Spiegel online”, Germany, 29/11/2016)

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