Yahoo Autos 2018 BMW 5-Series: Here It Is
We've seen prototypes running around the Nurburgring for a few months, and even got a glimpse of it this morning, but now, officially, we have the low-down on the 2018 BMW 5-Series. Visually it looks somewhat like the last-generation 5-Series (and a lot like the new 7-Series), but this is an all-new car. Essentially, BMW's taken the tech from the 7-Series and paired it with the new engines that made their debut in last year's facelifted 3-Series.
For the U.S. launch, BMW will offer two engines for the 5-Series, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the 530i, and a 3.0-liter inline-six in the 540i. All-wheel-drive is optional with either engine, but unsurprisingly, a manual transmission won't be available. BMW also released pictures of a model wearing an M550i badge, and we assume this will receive some sort of V8.
The new 5-Series rides on a slightly longer wheelbase than its predecessor but front and rear track lengths remain the same. BMW says the chassis is lighter and stiffer than before, and interestingly, will offer an anti-roll system that uses electric motors, rather than hydraulics. Four-wheel steering is optional on both rear- and all-wheel-drive models.
BMW says the new 5-Series weighs up to 137 lbs less than its predecessor, thanks to a greater use of aluminum, high-strength steel and magnesium.
Like the new 7-Series, the 5-Series gets all sorts of semi-autonomous features and futuristic tech in the interior. There's active cruise control, lane departure warnings, lane keep asisst, traffic jam assist, and a system that can autonomously perform evasive maneuvers at speeds of up to 100 mph. The interior gets the same gesture controls as the 7-Series and a remote-control parking feature.
The 5-Series faces stiff competition in the new Mercedes E-Class, Volvo S90, Jaguar XF, and others. All the tech in the 7-Series is quite nifty, and we're big fans of BMW's new engines, especially the 3.0-liter six in the 340i. Is it a recipe for success? We'll find out when we drive it.
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