Photo: BMW
Ever since the 1970s German carmaker BMW has been at the front of the pack in the executive car market with the 5 Series – some 10 million of them have been produced since introduction. It's a family of cars that have been specifically tailored to serve the needs of the more pretentious among us.
Over in China customer expectations are perhaps greater than anywhere else, so BMW, which sold roughly two million 5 Series there since the start of local production in 2003, has to go the extra mile to satisfy them. And that's exactly what it did this week, when it presented refreshed version of the 5 Series for the local market there.
Two new models are included in the release, the 5 Series Sedan and the electric version called i5, and both are based on the eighth generation of the model (or the fourth generation of the China-made models). This is the first time the all-electric model has reached the Chinese market, with BMW diving head-on into a segment that's very lucrative over there.
Like most other cars made with Chinese customers in mind by Western companies, both the 5 Series and i5 come with an extended wheelbase (exact dimensions were not disclosed) and will only be available in the Asian country.
Not only the longer wheelbase helps make the Chinese 5 Series special, but some design elements as well. Provided you get a chance to see one firsthand, you'll probably be surprised at the differences that make this model stand out from the other members of the pack.
First up, the front end of the car shows a different interpretation of the German brand's twin headlights, divided by a grille boasting contour lighting. Looked at from the side, the Bimmer's roofline drops differently toward the rear, while the back end view is dominated by the LED lights and chrome strip that separates them.
Exclusively for the Chinese market BMW throws into the fight a cute little detail, in the form of a number 5 located on the C-pillar. This element lights up in white for internal combustion-powered vehicles, and pulsates blue on the i5 when the car is charging.
Inside the China-spec 5 Series comes with a redesigned steering wheel. The dashboard is dominated by the carmaker's Curved Display which runs China-specific digital services. Because this is a premium car we're talking about, the BMW Theater Screen has been adapted from the 7 Series, allowing for 8K videos to be played, including via 5G connectivity. Sound is ensured by the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround gear.
BMW did not detail the engine lineup for the new 5 Series, and it didn't say anything about pricing either. Production will start at an undisclosed time at the Dadong plant the carmaker is running together with Brilliance.
Two new models are included in the release, the 5 Series Sedan and the electric version called i5, and both are based on the eighth generation of the model (or the fourth generation of the China-made models). This is the first time the all-electric model has reached the Chinese market, with BMW diving head-on into a segment that's very lucrative over there.
Like most other cars made with Chinese customers in mind by Western companies, both the 5 Series and i5 come with an extended wheelbase (exact dimensions were not disclosed) and will only be available in the Asian country.
Not only the longer wheelbase helps make the Chinese 5 Series special, but some design elements as well. Provided you get a chance to see one firsthand, you'll probably be surprised at the differences that make this model stand out from the other members of the pack.
First up, the front end of the car shows a different interpretation of the German brand's twin headlights, divided by a grille boasting contour lighting. Looked at from the side, the Bimmer's roofline drops differently toward the rear, while the back end view is dominated by the LED lights and chrome strip that separates them.
Exclusively for the Chinese market BMW throws into the fight a cute little detail, in the form of a number 5 located on the C-pillar. This element lights up in white for internal combustion-powered vehicles, and pulsates blue on the i5 when the car is charging.
Inside the China-spec 5 Series comes with a redesigned steering wheel. The dashboard is dominated by the carmaker's Curved Display which runs China-specific digital services. Because this is a premium car we're talking about, the BMW Theater Screen has been adapted from the 7 Series, allowing for 8K videos to be played, including via 5G connectivity. Sound is ensured by the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround gear.
BMW did not detail the engine lineup for the new 5 Series, and it didn't say anything about pricing either. Production will start at an undisclosed time at the Dadong plant the carmaker is running together with Brilliance.
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