As BMW’s second best-selling line next to the 3 Series, it’s not only expected that any update the German brand will give the 5 Series will be worth it—but also necessary.
And so with the announcement of the 2021 version of BMW’s prized mid-size sedan comes tweaks that should be more than enough to convince its fanbase clamoring for an upgrade.
BMW imbues the 5 Series with changes both inside and out. The exterior facelift, though subtle, gives the sports sedan a sharper, more contemporary look. This begins with the wider kidney grille, wraparound headlights, and more angular character lines out front, and on to the longer body, which has been stretched by an inch.
The changes are even less pronounced inside the cabin, as the only noticeable change is the larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with matching touchscreen infotainment system splayed out on the dash. The display screen now comes with BMW’s latest technology suite, iDrive 7, which the brand describes as “even more oriented to the current needs of the user” where “clear, puristic presentation meets intuitive usability and optimal use of the vehicle’s various displays.”
The 2021 BMW 5 Series also adds a number of active safety technology and driver assistance features, including automatic high beam headlights, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot detection, and lane-keep assist, with adaptive cruise control made available as an option.
The biggest change to the model though, is the update to the electrified powertrain options. Although the base model 530i’s power mill is unchanged, the 530e plug-in electric hybrid’s 108-hp turbo-four engine now comes with a new electric drive unit that includes a 12-kWh battery, according to the company. When the engine and electric motor are running simultaneously, the car produces a total combined power of 288 hp—that’s 40 hp more than the outgoing 530e units.
Additionally, the upper trim 540i is now equipped a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which BMW claims will make the car nimbler and more fuel-efficient, while boosting the model’s numbers to 335 hp and 450 Nm.
The top-of-the-line M550i xDrive’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 mill is completely unaltered, which makes sense considering that it already dishes out an impressive 523 hp and 722 Nm.
BMW starts shipping the 5 Series to dealerships in July, starting with North America and other markets to follow. The BMW 5 Series available locally, a 2020 model, sells for P3.99 to P 7.39 million.
Photos from BMW
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