High Five for upgraded BMW Five

The sedan... sleek lines.

The 5 Series before this upgrade has only been on the roads of the world for three years yet it sold more in 36 months than the previous model achieved in its entire life-span, so it's not surprising that the make-over was delicate and the changes subtle.

In terms of aesthetics both the Sedan and GT look a tad more streamlined and athletic, thanks to a more proclaimed shoulder-line which emphasises its width, a sportier nose with a revised grill, bigger air intakes, sleeker headlamps, new bumpers at both ends and sporty new alloys. All vehicles in this range are now also available with Modern, Luxury or Sport packages.

Like it or not...

The GT versions have been given a more rounded back which does or doesn't improve its looks, depending on which side of the fence you are standing on, but adds 60 litres of extra boot space. The design change makes the GT slice through the air smoother which means it glugs less expensive pump juice.

Rear view of the GT.

The living quarters have also been delicately jazzed up with bits of extra wood and chrome trim, and leather seats and a few other fancies are also available, depending on which of the three trim levels you opt for.

BMW wisely also didn't fiddle too much with the much-liked under-bonnet bits so that the turbo-charged 2,0 litre 520i and 520d remain unchanged at 135 kW to produce 0-100km/h times of 8.0 sec and 8.1 sec and fuel consumption figures of 6,4 litres/100km and 4,7litres/100km respectively. The more powerful and faster 535i and 535d also remain unchanged but the 550i has been fed some go-faster medicine so that the 4,4-litre bi-turbo V8 now pushes out 330kW (up from 300kW) and 650Nm (up from 600Nm).

Eight-speed plus coasting

All Fives (with the exception of the M5) now have eight-speed auto transmissions with a coasting mode to help reduce fuel consumption.

The GT front view showing off the sportier nose with a revised grill, bigger air intakes, sleeker headlamps, new bumper and sporty new alloys.

In the fancy kit department the Fives also take a few more steps into the future with fancier headlights equipped with High Beam Assistant which automatically changes its road-ahead focus to avoid dazzling oncoming motorists; foot-swiping boot opening (optional); Android-friendly connectivity (BMW says lots more are on the way in the new year, such as sim card activated web radio, Twitter feeds, Facebook, traffic updates, voice reads for incoming email; a night vision camera to identify cyclists, people and animals on the side of the road; a self-parking system, plus a system that will keep the car in the correct lane around corners - and even a concierge service to enable flight, restaurant and accommodation bookings.

Boldly underlined

The GT's living quarters - just what you'd expect from BMW.

click to enlarge

I drove both the revamped GT and Sedan at the Media introduction in Gauteng recently and could detect no instantly noticeable changes in the drive, handling, and zip between the "old" and the "new" models. In other words, the upgraded Five is precisely what we have come to expect from any of the 5 Series variants but with a good dollop of extra glitter.

The upgrade not only boldly underlines but also adds an exclamation mark after sold build, detailed finish, cosy cabin comforts, excellent passenger protection, superb rear-wheel-drive handling and slick looks as the reasons why the blue propeller band is favoured by millions the world over.

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