BMW 535i breaks free of its past design

PETER BLEAKNEY FOR THE TORONTO STAR

Coming in June, the 2011 BMW 535i offers a single-turbo inline six.

Peter Bleakney

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

CASCAIS, PORTUGAL–In the world of the premium mid-sized sport sedan, the arrival of a fresh BMW 5-series is no small affair. The terms icon and benchmark are freely tossed about when speaking of the 5 – a car that accounts for 20 per cent of BMW world sales and one that has pretty much set the standard for engaging dynamics in this category.

The outgoing model, launched in 2005 and penned by then BMW design chief Chris Bangle created quite a kerfuffle – all angular, controversial, and in-your-face with leering cat's-eye headlights.

Viewing the all-new sixth-generation 2011 535i for the first time (coming to Canada in June along with the V8 550i), it's clear the Bangle-era of BMW is history.

Current design head Adrian van Hooydonk has arrived at a considerably less daring saloon that looks like a smaller cousin of the recently toned down 7-series. Softer, more elegant and with a wheelbase stretch of 80 mm, the 5's front wheels are pushed well forward, leaving little overhang. Some nice design touches include the prominent hood ridges and large twin-kidney grill, but overall this new 5-series looks as though it will blend into the automotive landscape largely unnoticed.

The BMW 5-series has always been defined by the driving experience. So how does this sedan shape up? Does the new electric steering (replacing the time-honoured but less efficient hydraulic rack) compromise the 5's legendary steering feel? Does the new double-wishbone front suspension (replacing the traditional but unsophisticated MacPherson struts) improve this sedan's relationship with the road?

No and yes. In other words, good news all round.

Steering is meaty, well weighted and communicative in that BMW way. What surprises most is the new-found compliance in the suspension – an area where BMW has always erred on the side of harshness to achieve its sporting target.

All the press vehicles here were fitted with the optional adaptive Dynamic Drive with four presets (Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport+). These assessments are based on Normal mode, which is representative of the standard car setup.

Lead suspension engineer Jorg Ploss said getting the go-ahead from the BMW board to get double-wishbone front suspenders in the 5 was no easy task. The system is costlier, heavier and takes up more space. In the end it was deemed necessary to attain their goals of business-class comfort combined with class-leading dynamics.

Seems to have paid off. Road irregularities pass under the car with a muted thawump, yet the 535i feels taught, composed and balanced at all times.

Helping in the hairpins (and parking spots) was the optional Integral Active Steering that has the rear wheels turning opposite the fronts at slow speed, dramatically reducing the turning radius. Above 60 km/h, the rears turn slightly in tandem with the fronts.

The 3.0 L direct-injection straight-six goes from a twin-turbo setup to a single twin-scroll turbo for 2011, and gains Valvetronic throttle-less intake technology and a trick alternator that decouples during acceleration to reduce engine drag – all this in the name of increased efficiency.

All you really need to know is this is a seriously great engine, making a linear, sonorous and lag-free 300 hp and 300 lb.-ft from 1200-5000 rpm. Coupled to the new eight-speed automatic, it gets the 535i to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds. A six-speed manual transmission will also be available in the 535i and V8 550i.

The fresh interior benefits from a more elegant design and finer detailing, bringing it up to speed with the Audi A6 and new Mercedes-Benz E-class. The centre stack is angled seven degrees toward the driver, giving the car an intimate cockpit feel. Fourth-generation iDrive is standard.

On the highway, the 535i is stable and hushed – the most prominent sound being the rush of air over the A pillars.

Despite the 2011 5-series' slight size increase and higher feature content, this car weighs only a few kg more than the outgoing model. thanks to the extensive use of aluminum and high-strength steel.

BMW has delivered on its mandate to further advance the art of the business-class sports sedan, although you'll want to spec Adaptive Drive to reap the full benefit of BMW's latest tech.

Challengers include the new air-sprung M-B E-class – a comfortable and finely crafted car, but sporting it is not. The Audi A6 with its strong 300-hp supercharged V6 has a fab interior, but it can't match the Bimmer for steering feel, fluidity and poise.

The Jaguar XF is a looker and arrives at a good ride/handling compromise. The Cadillac CTS has price on its side, but the interior is not of this class and the 3.6 L V6 lacks punch.

The 535i is yet to be priced (the outgoing 535i xDrive lists for $68,900). Later in 2010, a 240-hp BMW 528i will debut and xDrive all-wheel-drive will be available for next winter. No plans to bring the excellent 535d diesel here (drat), but if BMW manages to squeeze out another M5 super sedan before all the fun stops, it will likely carry a twin-turbo V8 pumping out well over 500 horsepower. Hmmm.

Travel was provided to freelance writer Peter Bleakney by the automaker. pebleakney@sympatico.ca

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