Photo: BMW
Japan is a realm of many things: eel dishes, manga, and cars with obscure names, for instance. The latter category now welcomes a special edition of the BMW 5 Series, christened BARON with caps lock.
As a general reminder, baron is two things: a) a powerful person in a particular business or industry; b) a member of the lowest order of the British nobility. Care to have a stab in the dark regarding which definition goes hand in hand with the BMW 5 Series Celebration Edition BARON?
Nope, neither. According to BMW Japan, BARON has something to do with the “real gentleman.” Wait, when was the last time a BMW driver was chivalrous, courteous or honorable behind the wheel? Indeed, it was never. Jokes aside, BMW will build only 200 units of this special edition.
Based on the 523d M Sport, the BARON drinks diesel fuel, which is far from being the gentleman’s fuel of choice. Petrolheads call it Satan’s fuel for a reason, you know. Still, the TwinPower Turbo diesel packs a punch: 184 horsepower and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque. However, it is too little punch for a car that costs 7.77 million yen or 69,785 US dollars.
I know that exchange rates can be a headache, but bear with me. For a grand less that the retail price of the 5 Series Celebration Edition BARON, one could buy a BMW 550i xDrive sedan in the United States. A proper Bimmer with a twin-turbo V8 engine and 445 horsepower, that is.
Offered in Mineral Gray or Mediterranean Blue, the available paint options for the BARON can be matched with Oyster or Veneto Beige leather upholstery and Fine Line Ansorajitto Wood interior trim, whatever that is. “Cool, but where’s the specialness?” Umm, you do get a plaque that reads BARON xxx/200 and a leather key case with the serial number engraved. Other than that, the BARON is your typical BMW 5 Series.
Nope, neither. According to BMW Japan, BARON has something to do with the “real gentleman.” Wait, when was the last time a BMW driver was chivalrous, courteous or honorable behind the wheel? Indeed, it was never. Jokes aside, BMW will build only 200 units of this special edition.
Based on the 523d M Sport, the BARON drinks diesel fuel, which is far from being the gentleman’s fuel of choice. Petrolheads call it Satan’s fuel for a reason, you know. Still, the TwinPower Turbo diesel packs a punch: 184 horsepower and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque. However, it is too little punch for a car that costs 7.77 million yen or 69,785 US dollars.
I know that exchange rates can be a headache, but bear with me. For a grand less that the retail price of the 5 Series Celebration Edition BARON, one could buy a BMW 550i xDrive sedan in the United States. A proper Bimmer with a twin-turbo V8 engine and 445 horsepower, that is.
Offered in Mineral Gray or Mediterranean Blue, the available paint options for the BARON can be matched with Oyster or Veneto Beige leather upholstery and Fine Line Ansorajitto Wood interior trim, whatever that is. “Cool, but where’s the specialness?” Umm, you do get a plaque that reads BARON xxx/200 and a leather key case with the serial number engraved. Other than that, the BARON is your typical BMW 5 Series.
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