2016’s Most Memorable 5 Series Moments
BMW 5 Series Continues to Set Benchmarks for Mid-Size Luxury.
Sure, the BMW M2 might have stolen the show in 2016, when it comes to the most-buzzed-about vehicle wearing the German nameplate.
But when it comes to a roomier, premium luxury, sport performance sedan with a proven track record under its belt? Nothing bearing a BMW badge beats the 5 Series. In short, with all that well-deserved praise the M2 has garnered in 2016, it still doesn’t have the history of the 5 Series. So, to think that the compact coupe would have a year like its bigger sibling isn’t even plausible. So here are five major stories in 2016 centered around the BMW 5 Series.
Fourth-Gen E39 BMW 5 Series Gets Top Accolades
Mention any automobile in the same breath as Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond and it’s sure to spark interest among car buffs. So, when we came across a report in The Telegraph claiming that the E39 BMW was the greatest car ever featured on Top Gear, we took notice. So what if we quickly learned that the assertion was actually more of writer Alex Robbins’ personal opinion? He backs it up pretty good, and reminds us all why the E39 remains so popular.
BMW 5-Series Still Impresses
National survey ranks proved, that when it comes to quality, the 5 Series still ranks at the top of the list. Edmunds average consumer ranking for the 2016 model of the BMW sedan was 4 ½ out of 5 stars. And U.S. News & World Report loved the BMW 5 Series too, giving it an overall score of 8.6 out of 10 in the luxury midsize cars category.
BMW M5 Outperforms a Serious Foe
One of the most interesting stories for the BMW 5 Series in 2016 might have been the road debut of a few new formidable contenders, such as the Alpha Romeo Giulia and Genesis G90. But the 5 Series proved that regardless of what new car enters the midsize luxury car segment, outperforming the BMW is easier said than done. And the YouTube clip above, showing an M5 blasting away from a new Cadillac CTS-V in a drag race, makes that even more abundantly clear.
Next-Gen BMW 5 Series All the Craze
Of course, the big news of the year in 2016 for the 5 Series was all the talk about the next-gen model of the sedan, code named G30. Scheduled to make its debut in 2017 at the North American International Auto Show, the new 5 Series is being touted as one of the most dynamic models of the 5 Series to date, with a gang of performance enhancements, including a lighter body than the current model.
BMW 5-Series Explores Future Propulsion Systems
Like practically every other vehicle looking at ways to be more fuel-efficient, the BMW 5 Series is also rumored to be exploring alternative powertrains. One includes a hydrogen test model called the 5 GT prototype, which was reportedly spotted testing on the road in Spain. Although, an all-electric 5 Series seems far more feasible.