A couple of years ago,a few international motoring journalists got together to find the best car in the world. Mind you, not the most luxurious nor the fastest, but the best car that man has made and can buy in the market. They discussed S-Class Mercs, 7-Series Beemers, Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Ferraris, hybrids, and even the Volkswagen Lupo which manages a 100 km run with just three litres of fuel. And, I presume, after getting suitably drunk, they came out with the winner – the 5 Series BMW.
They had their justification. The ‘5er’ was spacious (not too big nor too small), practical (four doors), economical (great diesel powerpacks), fast (great petrol engines and a wild M-version), handled like a sports car and was as safe as a vault. And of course, the propeller badge gave it a certain degree of desirability and exclusivity (I think the Toyota Camry would have won if not for the last clause!). I’ve driven the last generation 5 Series and I agree with the findings of the scribes wholeheartedly. So, when BMW announced the death of the ‘best car in the world,’ and a new ‘5’ to replace it, a lot of people, including I, had reason to worry.
To begin with, BMW was going through a transition phase, with maverick designer Chris Bangle creating masterpieces which would certainly be appreciated twenty five years from now. For now, the new cars he clothes, including the new Seven, and to a lesser extent the Z4, look like sore thumbs on wheels and only help wake up latent automotive design-critics in people. BMW fans know the Munich firm too well to discard the new cars and they continue to buy the ‘ultimate odd-looking machines.’ Then came the car you see in these pages – after spending considerable time with the car I can’t really figure whether I really love or hate the looks of the new 5 Series. I can tell you it looks better in flesh than on paper – if that’s any consolation. The now infamous ‘flame surfacing’ returns in a mature fashion on the new 5 and it manages to catch light from almost every angle – even on a bleak, rainy day.
While I do have a small issue with the headlamps and the way the kidney grill has evolved, I must admit that the overall form is more purposeful than the previous-gen car. The car looks good in profile and when seen in motion. The rear three quarter is marred somewhat by the ‘Bangled boot’ (which makes people try to slam it shut... er, when it is shut) but lighting fixtures (which could have done any Peugeot coupe proud) make it look futuristic. I get this feeling that the makers of The Matrix would have used the new 5 in place of the Cadillac CTS if it had managed to look more dapper.
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