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BMW 5-series (F10/F11/F07)
Overview
Manufacturer	BMW and Brilliance
Production	2010–
Assembly	Dingolfing, Germany Manaus, Brazil Guadalajara, Mexico Shenyang, China Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door saloon 5-door station wagon 5-door wagon/Liftback
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive
Platform	BMW F10 BMW F11
Powertrain
Engine	3.0L 204 hp/199 lb-ft I6 3.0L 258 hp/228 lb-ft I6 3.0L TwinPower Turbo 306 hp/295 lb-ft I6 4.4L Twin Turbo 407 hp/442 lb-ft V8 2.0L Diesel 184 hp/280 lb-ft I4 3.0L Diesel 204 hp/332 lb-ft I6 3.0L Diesel 245 hp/398 lb-ft I6
Transmission	6-speed manual 8-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,968 mm (116.9 in)
Length	4,899–4,907 mm (192.9–193.2 in) (2011- sedan)
Width	1,860 mm (73.2 in)
Height	1,464–1,464 mm (57.6–57.6 in) (2011-present saloon)
Curb weight	unladen, to DIN/EU: 1625-1830 kg/1700-1905 kg

The sixth generation of the 5-Series (BMW F10) made its debut on 23 November 2009 as a 2011 model. The Station Wagon/Touring version carries the platform code F11.

Engineering

Improvements over the E60-generation 5-series include a front dual ball joint short-long arm suspension, and rear multilink suspension. The F10 has, for the European market at least, a choice of 7 engines: the N63 4.4 litre V8 topping the range in the 550i, followed by a trio of straight-6 petrols. Despite many rumours to the contrary, BMW's second best selling model after the 3 series does not use any 4 cylinder petrol engines this time round. Instead, BMW has retained, for the time being at least, a trio of straight 6 engines, completing the petrol engine range. Straight six engines offer superior refinement over their 4 cylinder counterparts, as well as being the trademark BMW engine which has featured in many of the company's most successful cars: the E28 and E34 M5, E36 and E46 M3, plus the iconic BMW E26 M1. The 535i has the 306 bhp/295 lb ft(400 N m) BMW N55 engine which made its debut in the F07 5-series GT, and will shortly find its way into the facelifted BMW E92 and E93. The magnesium block naturally aspirated direct injection straight 6 continues; this engine is the BMW N53; 3.0 litres, 258 bhp for the 528i, and 3.0 litres and 204 bhp for the 523i, same outputs as the BMW E89 Z4 sDrive23i.

The four petrol engines are complemented by three diesel engines. Despite rumours to the contrary, BMW only offers one 4 cylinder engine, the 520d. This means that the 525d continues to offer the superior mechanical refinement of a straight six as opposed to the rumoured 523d with 4 cylinders. The 525d is joined by a 530d; both models use the same BMW N57 3.0 litre engine, the 525d has 204 bhp and 450 N m, the 530d with 245 bhp and 540 N m of torque. There will be a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission.

Styling

It is designed by Adrian van Hooydonk, with a more prominent upright split kidney grille and the absence of the "Bangle butt" rear-end styling of its E60 predecessor. Externally, the car is a more traditional BMWesque design; a far more sober effort after the highly controversial E60. Although it bears some resemblance to the E60 with the wide kidney grilles and a very pronounced Hofmeister kink, the creases in the bonnet and just underneath the door are clearly related to the E39 and other earlier 5 series models. Inside marks the return of the centre console being clearly angled towards the driver, another marked change from its immediate predecessor which was noted for its non traditional BMW design. However, opinion is divided, as a reviewer described the F10 as too bland and conservative, compared to the E60 predecessor, as well too much resemblance to the E90 3-Series.

5-Series Gran Turismo (F07)

In May 2009, BMW released the official pictures of its production model 5-Series Gran Turismo, which is considered a coupé-like crossover vehicle or station wagon - a blend of different typical body styles. BMW advertises the new 5-Series GT as "The First of its Kind". The 5-Series GT is powered by a single-turbo diesel I6 producing 245 PS, by a single-turbo I6 producing 306 PS and a twin-turbo V8 producing 408 PS; the latter will give the car a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds. The car receives ZF's new 8-speed serial automatic transmission, along with a new Brake Energy Regeneration system.

BMW has suggested that the new 5-Series GT would replace the 5-Series Touring (wagon) in their North American lineup, due to slow sales of the E61 Touring in the United States, with only 400 sold in 2009. In that country, more M5s and Z8s have been sold than the 535i and 540i wagons, respectively. BMW is targeting annual sales of 4000 to 8000 5 Series GTs.

The F07 Gran Turismo shares the same F01 7 Series-derived platform, powertrain, mechanical package, and dashboard with the F10. However the F07's fascia has different headlights and bumper, with a larger split-kidney grille similar to that of the F01 7 Series. The F07 also has a taller height resulting in a higher center of gravity, its longer length allows for more rear legroom, the rear passenger accommodation has optional "Executive" bucket seats for two instead of the three-seat bench, and it weights 400 pounds heavier compared to the F10. The F07 also features frame-less doors and a double-pane liftgate truck.

The F07 was released before the rest of the next-generation 5-Series lineup. In Canada and the United States, for first half of 2010, the Gran Turismo was sold alongside the outgoing E60 5-Series, until the rollout of the F10 in June 2010.

References

1. http://www.brillianceauto.com/brands/bmw.html
2. http://media.ford.com/plant_display.cfm?plant_id=50
3. http://www.bmw.com.my/com/en/newvehicles/5series/overview.html
4. "2010 BMW 5 Series F10". BMWCoop. 2008-11-12. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
5. Graeme Fletcher (2009-11-24). "New 2011 BMW 5 Series gets bigger, better looking Read more:". National Post.
6. "2011 BMW 5 Series F10 Interior Caught in Latest Spy Photos". Worldcarfans.com. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
7. "BMW 3-series Convertible (2010) facelift spied". www.carmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
8. 05:28 PM. "2010 BMW 5-series touring spyshots - 2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10". F10.5post.com. Retrieved 2010-03-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
9. "Preview: 2010 BMW 5-Series - MotorAuthority - Car news, reviews, spy shots". MotorAuthority. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
10. "Preview: 2010 BMW 5-series revealed". Bmwblog.com. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
11. Lanning, Phil (2010-01-29). "Seven plus three equals five | The Sun |Motors|Phil Lanning". The Sun. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
12. "The New BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo". Automoblog.net.
13. "BMW Might Kill 5 Series Wagon in Favor of GT Crossover". Edmunds.com. 2009-07-08. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
15. Riches, Erin (2009-11-23). "2011 BMW 5 Series Goes on Sale in June 2010, Gets New Engines". Blogs.insideline.com. Retrieved 2010-03-05.

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