2017 BMW 5 Series

According to Khabar Khodro, just over a week after its online debut, the BMW 5 Series has made its Australian debut in Melbourne. Live images from motoring.com.au show the all-new 5er in the flesh, for the first time. The 2017 5 Series will go on sale internationally on 11 February, 2017.

The seventh generation BMW 5 Series (BMW G30) features an evolutionary design inspired by the sixth-gen BMW 7 Series (BMW G11/G12) introduced last year. With a length, width and height of 4,935 mm, 1,868 mm and 1,466 mm respectively, the 2017 5 Series 5 mm longer, 6 mm wider and 2 mm taller compared to the outgoing model. The wheelbase, at 2,975 mm, has grown by 7 mm.

The all-new BMW 5 Series is based on the company’s CLAR platform. Due to the increased usage of aluminium and high-strength steels, the weight of the car has been reduced by up to 100 kg from that of the outgoing model. Unlike the BMW 7 Series though, carbon-fibre hasn’t been used for cost concerns.

Engine models at launch will include the 530i/530i xDrive with a 185 kW (252 hp) 2.0-litre petrol unit, 540i/540i xDrive with a 250 kW (340 hp) 3.0-litre petrol unit, 520d/520d xDrive with a 140 kW (190 hp) 2.0-litre diesel unit and 530d/530d xDrive with a 195 kW (265 hp) 3.0-litre diesel unit, available with 6-speed manual (only 520d) and 8-speed automatic transmission choices.

From March 2017, the 530e iPerformance with a 2.0-litre 185 kW (252 hp) petrol-electric plug-in hybrid system, the 520d EfficientDynamics Edition with a more efficient 140 kW (190 hp) 2.0-litre diesel unit and the M550i xDrive with a 340 kW (462 hp) 4.4-litre V8 petrol unit – all exclusively with an 8-speed automatic transmission – will also be available.