2010 BMW 5 Series unveiled in Munich - BMW Egypt & BMW Middle East sleeping as usual

23.11.2009 - Munich / Cairo / Dubai - While all car-fans and professional motoring-journalists around the world where watching the unveiling of the new BMW 5 series live from Munich, it seems that BMW Egypt and BMW Middle East were not paying attention at all to this highly anticipated event. And while Auto Arabia Media Group was the first and only media in Egypt and the Middle East to broadcast the 5 series launch live on its website www.AutoArabia.org, there is not even a press release or a single picture of the new BMW 5 series on the BMW PressClub Middle East or on the website of BMW Egypt.

And while a lot of opinion-making journalists from around the world where invited to the launch in Munich, BMW did not bother to invite any of the professional or opinion-making journalists from Egypt or the Middle East, which shows a great lack of respect not only towards the Arabic-speaking media but also towards the Middle Eastern and Egyptian customers, which in the future both the journalists and the customers should surely take into consideration. Such attitude of the BMW dealers and the representative offices in the region are surely jeopardizing the image of BMW in the Middle East and Egypt. I wonder whatDr. Norbert Reithofer would think of such an business-harming attitude.

Anyway, let us get back to Munich where the BMW 5 series was unveiled yesterday in a very impressive show, which involved a helicopter in the unveiling ceremony. According to BMW the world debut of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan once again marks the epitome of aesthetic design and supreme driving pleasure in the upper midrange segment. Through its sporting and elegant looks, driving dynamics typical of the brand, outstanding efficiency as well as innovative comfort and safety features, the sixth generation of BMW’s executive express convincingly reflects the supreme standard of the world’s most successful manufacturer of premium cars throughout the entire process of development, says BMW.

BMW says the Design is charismatic and at the same time elegant and sporting. With the longest wheelbase in the segment, a long and sleek engine compartment lid, short overhangs front and rear and a coup?©-like, graceful roofline, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan is expected to stand out clearly from the competition.

Overall, the aesthetic looks of the car are clearly determined by perfectly balanced proportions. Design features typical of the brand are to be found both at the front with its BMW kidney grille inclined slightly forward and on the strikingly chiselled engine compartment lid, in the stylish and elegant side view of the car, and on the muscular rear end.

Within the interior modern function and a superior ambience come together in perfect harmony, unmistakable style and clear orientation to the driver in the cockpit could probably provide a truly unique driving and travelling experience.


BMW also hopes that the driving experience would include supreme dynamics and at the same time outstanding comfort, which we will be able to judge when we drive the car.

The most advanced drivetrain and suspension technologies ensure supreme sportiness and an even higher standard of motoring comfort all in one.
At the same time optional Dynamic Driving Control enables the driver to set the suspension individually to his personal requirements. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is available with Adaptive Drive encompassing Dynamic Damper Control and Dynamic Drive stability control, as well as BMW’s Integral Active Steering.

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is making its debut with one eight-cylinder and three six-cylinder petrol engines as well as two six-cylinder diesels.
The range is rounded off by a four-cylinder turbodiesel with an aluminium crankcase and common-rail direct injection. Maximum output in this case of 135 kW/184 hp makes the BMW 520d fitted as standard with Auto Start Stop the new efficiency benchmark in its segment. Average fuel consumption in the EU5 test cycle is just 5.0 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 56.5 mpg imp), the CO2 emission rating is 132 g/km (provisional figures).

The top-of-the-range BMW 550i comes with an eight-cylinder boasting BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and High Precision Injection for maximum output of 300 kW/407 hp.

The straight-six with BMW TwinPower Turbo, High Precision Injection and VALVETRONIC in the BMW 535i delivers maximum output of 225 kW/306 hp, while the two straight-six power units featuring High Precision Injection and lean-burn operation develop 190 kW/258 hp in the BMW 528i and, respectively, 150 kW/204 hp in the BMW 523i.

Straight-six diesels with the most advanced technology give the BMW 530d maximum output of 180 kW/245 hp and the BMW 525d an equally impressive 150 kW/204 hp. Fitted with optional BMW BluePerformance technology, the BMW 530d fulfils the EU6 emission standard. And it almost goes without saying that all versions of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan comply in full with the EU5 standard in Europe.

BMW also hopes to increase the lead with the so-called 'BMW EfficientDynamics'. All versions of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan are available as an option with BMW’s new eight-speed automatic transmission. The BMW 550i comes as standard with BMW’s automatic transmission optimised for efficiency, just
like EPS Electric Power Steering featured on all models.

BMW EfficientDynamics technologies are naturally featured as standard in appropriate combinations on each model, with features such as Brake Energy Regeneration, a gearshift point indicator, active air flap control, and on-demand operation of ancillary units including a detachable a/c compressor. Intelligent lightweight construction, finally, is ensured by features such as the doors, engine compartment lid, front side panels and suspension components made of aluminium.

The new 5 series shall also offer innovative driver assistance systems with the BMW ConnectedDrive. The driver assistance systems offered for the first time in the context of BMW ConnectedDrive include a Parking Assistant, Surround View, collision warning with application of the brakes in conjunction with Active Cruise Control plus Stop & Go, and a new Speed Limit Device. Further features also available are Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info, a Head-Up Display, BMW Night Vision with detection of individual persons, and a back-up camera.

The new BMW 5 series enjoys a joint development and production together with the BMW 7 Series, which means that the world debut of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan opens up the latest chapter in a truly impressive story of success, according to BMW. In the course of five model generations, overall sales of the BMW 5 Series already amount to more than 5.5 million units. Now the new model is based on a newly developed vehicle architecture also featured in the BMW 7 Series luxury sedans.

Joint production of the BMW 5 Series Sedan and the BMW 7 Series at BMW Plant Dingolfing, together with the extensive use of shared components, ensures highly efficient production with a supreme standard of quality following the most demanding benchmarks in the market.

So, will the BMW 5 series be up to all the promises and claims made by BMW in its statements and press releases? And will the new BMW 5 series be able to be the new bench-mark in its segment, among the fierce competition of the Mercedes E-Class, the Audi A6, the Jaguar XF, the Lexus or even the extremely dynamic Porsche Panamera in the Middle East region?Well, we will tell you about that when we drive it.

MS