BMW 5 Series (2010 / 2011) Revealed

The new 2010 / 2011 BMW 5 Series

It’s been coming for a long time – the 2010/2011 BMW 5 Series – and just last week we had a picture of the new 5 Series from a German magazine. But now BMW has finally gone official and revealed all the goodies on their mid-size saloon of the future – the 2010 BMW 5 Series or, if you’re in the US, the 2011 BMW 5 Series.

The new 5 Series migrates to the same underpinnings as the new 5 Series GT and 7 Series – and for that matter the Rolls Royce Ghost – which means this new 5 Series loses the traditional suspension struts and gets a multi-link arrangement all round. The new 5 also gets electric active front steering which may, or may not, be a good thing (depending on how much ‘feel’ is lost). You even get the option of active rear steering for some tighter turns plus active damping.

This new 5 gets the fourth generation i-drive and a layout on the dash very similar to the 5 Series GT with a big 10.2″ screen on models with SatNav. Model range kicks off with the 520d SE at £28,165, rising to the 550i SE at £50,520, with a total choice of three diesel and four petrol engines at launch. In the mix is the 8-speed auto ‘box from the 5 Series GT (depending on model) and an active Hybrid and M5 variant will follow later.

Lots of new options are available, including a new park assist, 4 wheel active steering, heads-up display and night vision.

We’ll revisit the new BMW 5 Series in more depth tomorrow, but for now you can get all the nuts and bolts in the BMW 5 Series 2010 Press Release and have a look at the pictures in the gallery below.

By Cars UK