At the experience meeting of the new generation BMW 5 Series, four different product lines including the fuel 5 Series long wheelbase, the pure electric i5 long wheelbase, the fuel 5 Series standard wheelbase and the pure electric i5 M60 were shown. Although the main product in the Chinese market is the petrol version of the 5 Series long wheelbase version, the i5 M60 will indeed impress car enthusiasts more in the experience of the three models, and the pure electric i5 long wheelbase that debuted is quite surprising.
Proportions: BMW's designer's self-breakthrough
The biggest perception of the new generation of the 5 Series is that BMW is not limited by the path of previous success, and always boldly breaks through.
The most typical is the proportions of the new BMW 5 Series with a long wheelbase.
One premise we need to know is that this generation of BMW 7 Series has been very clear at the beginning of its construction on the same platform as gasoline and electricity. The biggest problem with the battery layout of the tram on the basis of the gasoline car is the impact on the interior space. Therefore, when BMW designed the new generation of 7 Series, it chose to let the new car design go in the direction of Rolls-Royce, rather than a flagship sedan with a "vigorous" attitude.
As you can see, the design of the i7 has been commented as "Laurie Labor", but consumers still pay for it.
Therefore, when it comes to the new generation of 5 Series, the strategy of BMW's designers is the same, rather than tangling under the original proportions, it is better to make a bold breakthrough. Don't care how to get the proportion of the oil trucks, but let the oil cars come and the trams.
We can notice that BMW's designers have boldly broken the inherent car height ratio, allowing the body height of the new generation 5 Series to 1520mm, which is 20mm more than the current model, so that the door-to-window ratio has become larger in terms of visual effect. The reason is also very simple, that is, BMW designers have to consider the placement of the bottom battery pack, but also ensure the interior space that an executive-class luxury car should have.
The all-new 5 Series raises the front and window lines directly, with a larger front grille and a wider lower bumper underneath, while the window lines are also raised, and the side skirts are thicker to cover the thickness of the battery pack underneath. In the end, BMW's all-new 5 Series, like the all-new 7 Series, shows a more executive luxury feel.
However, compared to the sportier stance of the original, the proportions of the 5 Series have obviously been adjusted. The designers have lengthened the B-pillar by 115mm, which makes the entire roof and waistline smoother, and the C-pillar is also connected to the tailgate, giving it a coupe style. If you compare the tailgate lids of the long-wheelbase version with the standard wheelbase version, you will find that the tailgate of the 5 Series long-wheelbase is a bit more sloping.
It can be said that the long wheelbase version of BMW's new 5 Series is actually better looking than the standard wheelbase version in terms of proportional attitude, because the long wheelbase weakens the raised front and window lines, making it less obtrusive, and has the slenderness of an executive car, but also maintains an elegant posture. The standard-axle version, on the other hand, is more like a sports sedan, similar to the somewhat towering stance of the previous 2 Series.
Design: Skill and controversy are all in the details
The design of the new BMW 5 Series is actually known to everyone, but there are many details that you will not find if you don't see the actual car with your own eyes and compare several versions.
First of all, the design of the front of the car, we can see that the new 5 Series is still very BMW, and the kidney grille is still very conspicuous, but it is larger than the previous model. The grille of the all-new i5 long-wheelbase version is not the usual flat style of pure electric models, but has the same design as the petrol version, except that the petrol version of the 5 Series adopts an active grille that can be opened and closed. At the same time, there is also a ring of LED light strips on the periphery, and the contours of the vehicle's air intake grille are visible at a glance when driving in the tunnel.
The grille of the new i5 M60 model is more sci-fi, completely retaining the shape of the kidney grille, while adding more gloss black trim, and the addition of a carbon fibre rear wing to highlight the sporty design. The red body M60 model seen this time, with the classic black trim, the whole performance temperament is grasped at once, and the swooping attitude brought by the more compact body is indeed more sporty.
Some people think that the headlights of the new generation of 5 series are not good-looking, but in fact, if you compare the headlights of the classic E39 and E60 eras, this sense of roundness and upward picking is actually very related.
The more controversial ones are the lower bumper and front lip, but there are actually two different designs here. The Luxury Design Package has a relatively business-like, calm design, but it also feels more ordinary, somewhat Audi-like. The M Sport Design Package is designed with two upward fangs, which highlights the sense of sportiness, and the large area of gloss black trim that BMW is used to now is still very unique. In addition, the sports design package will have a gloss black trim strip under the side skirts, and the bottom of the rear bumper is also black, reducing the feeling of heaviness of the body.
As a product for the Chinese market, BMW has specially provided frosted gold trim this time, and there is also a choice of flowing gold trim in the car, which is very suitable for the Chinese market. And the combination of red and gold is very similar to Iron Man. Of course, this set is called "Titan Gold" exterior decoration, which costs an additional 8,800 yuan, an auspicious number. In terms of effect, the red body with gold trim is a must, and it looks like an Iron Man suit; There is also a combination of black body and gold trim, which is unexpectedly good-looking, which is equivalent to a black suit with gold thread, revealing a "golden" temperament in a low-key manner.
Another exclusive design is the C-pillar, which BMW says is a new interpretation of the Hofmeister corner, and the Chinese long-wheelbase version comes standard with an exclusive C-pillar "5" glorious logo - the petrol version is white, and the i5 is blue. And when the i5 starts charging, the number "5" will also show a short breathing effect, indicating the charging status.
The rear of the car is a very 7 series design, horizontal, slender, sharp, three-dimensional design, lit up is a double parallel line design. In addition, this time the BMW 5 Series fuel version is all hidden exhaust, which is unified with the i5, and the entire tail looks more sci-fi.
Interior: China customized, high configuration
The interior cockpit of the new BMW 5 Series with a long wheelbase inherits the characteristics of the new 7 Series, which can make young people like it very much, and it does not feel old at all.
The all-new 5 Series also maintains the family design of the one-piece curved screen, while slightly leaning towards the driver, which is also a characteristic of BMW's "driver's car". The entire system was upgraded to iDrive 85 version, but it's not Android, so there is no continuation of the Android experience in the experience, it can only be said that some menus are hidden or relatively deep, and each driving mode is different in the interface.
In terms of steering wheel, the BMW 5 Series' luxury design package provides a set of double-spoke, large at the top and small at the bottom, so that you can better see the big screen.
The real selling point of the interior of the new 5 Series Long Wheelbase is the brilliant interactive light strip that continues from the 7 Series. From the start of the car, this interactive light strip will have a lot of animation effects, but it is not a whole strip like the 7 series, and it is divided into two sections on the 5 series. The combination of ambient lights of the interactive light strip is fixed, and it can be switched through my modes, although it is not the number of 64 colors and 1 billion colors that other brands move at every turn, but this pleasant color design is a good design.
In addition, you need to know that the crystal buttons such as iDrive and the start button cost extra money, and you don't know what the low configuration looks like.
This time, BMW's interior designers also designed seats specifically for the long-wheelbase version. The newly designed rear seats are thickened, the high-end seats are equipped with comfortable headrests for the front and rear seats exclusive to the Chinese market, and the high-end seats also have the "five" logo exclusive to the Chinese market, creating a sense of ceremony.
In terms of rear seat space, BMW has also made careful considerations, such as high-end wrap-around seats specially built for the Chinese market, and the rear armrests are also the same as the 7 Series, which has a better ride feeling. And this time, BMW did not layer the rear door panels up and down, but carried out an enveloping design with the rear seats, and the materials and colors were unified, so as to form a home sofa feeling.
In addition, the backs of the front seats have also been optimized, and the storage pockets that are not commonly used today have been removed, which can increase more legroom in the rear. However, BMW has added a Type-C charging port and an iPad port, so that the rear row also has a digital experience.
This time, BMW emphasized that the interior of the new 5 Series uses a lot of high-quality eco-friendly interior materials - Veganza. As a new material for the fourth evolution of Sensatec leather, Veganza fabrics are made from animal-free ingredients, which is more environmentally friendly and more durable. In other words, the all-new BMW 5 Series also doesn't offer a leather seat configuration, which is reserved for the more noble 7 Series owners.
At the same time, the roof can also be optionally equipped with BMW 7 Series BMW floating giant screen, 8K resolution, 31-inch size is very shocking. Moreover, this screen can be adjusted to the position after unfolding, automatically adjusting the distance and proximity, and can also be linked with the front seats to prevent interference.
With a 31-inch screen, Bowers & Wilkins audio, and a large sofa, it can be said that the new 5 Series Long Wheelbase Edition is a continuation of the living room, bringing more relaxed and pleasant psychological relief to passengers.
Space: The new power of pure electric cars is unbeatable
Fuel long axle, pure electric long axle, pure electric standard axle, the rear space of the three cars is completely different.
BMW's emphasis is: "The head can be raised, the feet can be put down", which is a "mockery" of the previous pure electric car space, and it has indeed done it.
The wheelbase of the long-wheelbase BMW i5 and the fuel version of the 5 Series is 3105mm, so their rear knee room is the same, almost two fists and four fingers, which can be said to be quite spacious. At the same time, the headroom is also very close, basically about four fingers of a fist.
What is the difference between the fuel version and the pure electric version? In fact, it is due to the fact that the battery pack at the bottom of the pure electric version will lift the floor, and the floor gap is probably more than two fingers, that is, about 2-3 cm (a simple test with the iPhone 15 Pro). Such a gap brings about a difference in the support of the seats to the thighs - on the pure electric i5, you will slightly feel that the H-point of the rear seats is lower, but it is okay to stretch the legs a little; And the overall sitting position and comfort level of the petrol version of the 5 Series is very good.
Then, the rear space of the standard wheelbase i5 M60 can only be said to be quite cramped, and the wheelbase of 2995mm can only provide rear passengers with about one fist and three fingers of knee room, and at the same time, the headroom is only one fist or two fingers. And also because of the problem of battery arrangement, the thigh support of the entire rear row is not so good.
In addition, there is a difference in the trunk space of the pure electric i5 with a long wheelbase and the long wheelbase of the petrol 5 series. The long wheelbase of the petrol 5 Series has significantly sunk more and looks bigger, but there is no room for concealment. The pure electric i5 is different, although it seems that the bottom plate is almost flush with the threshold, but after uncovering the folding board, you will find that there is a large hidden space of about 80L to 100L below.
In addition, since the petrol-electric version is the same platform, when driving the BMW i5, you will find that the front seats can be adjusted quite low, which is something that many pure electric sedans can't do.
Driver summary:
All of the above are my outstanding impressions during the static experience of the new generation BMW 5 Series.
In fact, the launch of the new 5 Series long wheelbase version, BMW is also through its own form, to respond to some of the so-called new forces in the market beyond the traditional luxury car companies. In particular, it is emphasized that the long wheelbase of the BMW i5 is "the head can be raised and the feet can be put down", as well as "whether it is petrol or electricity, it is very BMW", "BMW's unique driving pleasure comes from the combination of software and hardware and BMW's exclusive system integration and tuning, not stacking materials and book data" and so on.
Moreover, although many people are saying that luxury car companies have been hit by new forces, the product power shown by the new generation BMW 5 Series can still ensure that its monthly sales exceed 10,000. Not to mention the thick moat of the fuel 5 series long wheelbase version, let's just say that this time the i5 long wheelbase version, how many new forces have created a 400,000 yuan C-class luxury car, which can sit more spacious than the i5 and drive better?
The ginger is still old and spicy, and the BMW is still very BMW.
Text | jackielxx
Figure | jackielxx