TODAY 6 FEB Exclusive BMW News

...offers an intelligent alternative for executive family transport. The new 5 Series Touring is available in two models with the Manufacturer Recommended List Price for the entry-level 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel 520d Touring starting at $92,800. With its high performance 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo straight six cylinder petrol engine, the top-of-the-range 535i Touring is priced from $138,900 with both models featuring an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. "The all-new 5 Series set a new benchmark in style, performance, efficiency and driving dynamics for executive sedans and now with the addition of the Touring models, BMW can add outstanding versatility and practicality to those attributes," said BMW Group Australia Managing Director Stavros Yallouridis. "With this new fourth generation 5 Series Touring model, BMW is delivering a sporty, elegant, executive lifestyle package that features a spacious and cleverly detailed interior to meet a variety of business, leisure and touring needs.

"A vast array of driver assistance systems combined with BMW's renowned chassis technology ensures safe, confident and dynamic driving characteristics while the latest generation turbocharged petrol and diesel engines refined with EfficientDynamics technologies provide the ultimate in performance and efficiency.

"Not everyone wants, or needs, a high-riding lifestyle vehicle and with the 5 Series Touring we are offering the best of both worlds with a spacious, practical and versatile interior and benchmark performance, efficiency and driving dynamics,” he said.

Design: sleek sporting exterior, spacious versatile interior

With its short front overhang, long bonnet and gently sloping roofline topped by satin aluminium roof rails tapering to the rear tailgate, the 5 Series Touring delivers a sporting and elegant aesthetic. The trademark BMW styling cues including a wide kidney grille, dual round headlights, strong side contour lines and rear L-shaped taillights give the car an instantly recognisable appearance while its broad low stance provides a powerful presence on the road.

The interior design of the new BMW 5 Series Touring clearly brings out the active character of the car with its clever details and premium nature showcased through the use of high quality, luxurious materials.

Across the front, the elegant asymmetrical dash is inclined towards the driver at an angle of approximately 7 degrees to ensure all controls and functions are placed for quick and easy reference. A keyless start/stop button sits prominently on the dash enabling the driver to keep the remote key fob in the pocket or a handbag and the new multi-function steering wheel offers greater functionality incorporating both cruise control and audio/phone controls.

With the longest wheelbase in its class measuring 2968mm and an overall length of 4907mm, the BMW 5 Series Touring offers a vast amount of interior space with flexible seating for five occupants and a large carpeted rear luggage space.

In order to offer the greatest degree of versatility in its carrying capacity, the rear seat back splits and folds individually in three 40/20/40 sections providing a luggage capacity that ranges from 560 litres to 1670 litres.

To further enhance this flexibility, the rear seat backs can also be adjusted through 11 degrees in seven separate increments while the rear tailgate with its low-loading sill offers a separately opening rear window to allow quick and easy access to the luggage compartment. The window and tailgate can both be opened using the remote control and on the 535i Touring, the tailgate is fully electrically operated.

Both models also feature a luggage cover as standard that is automatically raised when the tailgate or rear window are opened, full length floor rails with adjustable eyelets, and a luggage net.

The 5 Series Touring is available in a range of 13 exterior colours, and metallic paint is standard for the 535i. Inside, the standard fine Dakota leather interior upholstery is offered in a choice of six colours. The optional Exclusive Nappa leather with extended contents is available in a choice of Black or Oyster/Black.

Likewise, there is a range of non-cost trim options including black high-gloss enamel, three different types of wood – ash grain-gloss, ash grain brown, ‘Fineline’ anthracite’ or Fine Brushed Aluminium. Aluminium hexagon is available in conjunctions with the M Sport Package.

To further enhance the sporting visual and dynamic appeal of the 5 Series Touring, a full M Sport Package is optionally available on both models that includes 18-inch double spoke ally wheels and complete M Aerodynamics Package, sport front seats, M leather steering wheel and interior trim highlights, and a l sports suspension which lowers the car by 15mm.

Powertrain and dynamics: efficient, high performance driving pleasure

The new 5 Series Touring is offered with a choice of either a fuel-efficient and dynamic 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine or the new 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine.

Powering the top-of-the-range 535i Touring, the petrol engine was first introduced in Australia in the 5 Series Gran Turismo and combines High Precision Injection and fully variable VALVETRONIC valve control to produce a maximum output of 225kW at 5800rpm and peak torque of 400Nm from a low 1200rpm right through to 5000rpm.

Accompanied by an eight-speed Sports Automatic transmission complete with steering wheel mounted paddle shifts with M gearshift logic, the engine enables the 535i to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 6.1 seconds while offering combined EU fuel consumption figure of 8.5l/100km with CO2 emissions of 197g/km.

For even greater efficiency, the 520d Touring is driven by the latest generation BMW 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that combines common rail direct fuel injection and a variable geometry turbocharger to produce a maximum power of 135kW at 4000rpm and peak torque of 380Nm between 1750rpm and 2750rpm. Combined fuel consumption is an extremely low 5.3l/100km while CO2 emissions are just 139g/km. Mated to the standard eight-speed Automatic Transmission (the Sports Automatic transmission is optionally available), the 520d can cover the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.3 seconds.

Both models share the same sophisticated all-aluminium double wishbone front suspension and Integral V rear axle with the BMW 5 Series Sedan to ensure the optimum balance of ride comfort and handling. Given its larger load capacity, the 5 Series Touring also features a standard self-levelling air suspension on the rear that immediately takes account of, and compensates for, changes in load to provide a constant vehicle height under all driving and load conditions.