Our First Look at the 2021 BMW 5 Series!

2021 BMW 5 Series Pricing

MSRP pricing for the 2021 BMW 5 Series sedan is:

• $54,200 for the 530i Sedan
• $56,500 for the 530i xDrive Sedan
• $57,200 for the 530e Sedan
• $59,500 for the 530e xDrive Sedan
• $59,450 for the 540i Sedan
• $61,750 for the 540i xDrive Sedan
• $76,800 for the M550i xDrive Sedan.

New Exterior Design

The exterior of the BMW 5 Series sports a cleaner surface design. The most striking feature is the new BMW Kidney Grille design with resculpted headlamps. The new grille is taller and wider, reaching further down into the front bumper cover and is surrounded by a one-piece grille element. The vertical grille slats are more pronounced and extend further into the airflow.

While most exterior and interior dimensions remain unchanged, the length grows by 1.2 inches to offer a more sweeping profile. The aerodynamics of the new 5 Series Sedans benefit from the carefully drawn lines, with the 530i sedan achieving a Cx as low as 0.27.

The new standard Adaptive LED headlights are slimmer in profile and feature two L–shaped daytime driving light elements on each side. These elements also perform the function of turn signals.

The rear of the 5 Series is accentuated by new, standard trapezoidal tailpipe finishers integrated into the lower bumper area. New rear L-shaped taillights feature black edging and three-dimensional lenses.

The M Sport Package benefits from redesigned front and rear bumpers, larger front air intakes with mesh inserts and a re-sculptured rear diffuser panel.

The M550i xDrive Sedan includes the new Aerodynamic kit from the M Sport Package and adds a rear trunk lid spoiler for enhanced functionality and appearance. A Cerium Grey finish is applied to the side mirror caps, BMW Kidney Grille surround, front air intake inlays and Air Breathers, and to the model lettering. The dual trapezoidal exhaust finishers are black chrome while window surrounds are in high-gloss black.

Interior Design & Features

The interior of the 2021 5 Series Sedan is highlighted by the standard Live Cockpit Professional with iDrive 7, a 12.3” digital instrument display, and a 12.3” digital central touchscreen control display (up from previous 10.25”). Standard Navigation, Apple CarPlay Compatibility, and Android Auto Compatibility are included. The buttons on the center console are now finished in a high-gloss black.

Standard on all four-cylinder and six-cylinder models is a new Perforated SensaTec upholstery with contrast stitching, giving an even more stylish look and feel to the interior. Dakota Leather is standard on the M550i xDrive and optional on the other models. Nappa Leather is available as an option on all models. The dashboard on the four- and six-cylinder 5 Series can be ordered in an optional Black SensaTec with brown stitching, which is standard on the M550i xDrive.

All models feature standard Sport seats (M Multi-contour seats on M550i xDrive) and a 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat.

48-Volt Mild Hybrid Technology (for Six-Cylinder Models)

A new mild-hybrid system with a 48V starter-generator offers enhanced performance, better efficiency, and improved driving comfort in the six-cylinder BMW 5 Series.

A powerful 48V starter-generator and a second battery greatly increases the ways in which Brake Energy Regeneration can be utilized. When the driver releases the accelerator, the generator transforms the kinetic energy into electricity to be stored in the 48V battery. Energy recuperation benefits even more when the Driving Experience Control switch is set to SPORT mode. The additional deceleration generated over and above the engine braking effect is also harnessed when the brakes are applied. A specially designed braking system previously found in BMW’s plug-in-hybrid models enables the combination of electrical and mechanical deceleration to be deployed as required and with maximum efficiency at all times.

The recuperated energy accumulating in the 48V battery is supplied to the 12V electrical system and powers the lights, steering, power windows, ventilation, audio system and seat heating. In addition, the stored energy can be used to provide additional drive power when it is fed back to the 48V starter-generator.

The starter-generator then acts likes an electric drive unit that assists the engine, allowing it to operate within a more efficient range as frequently as possible and ensuring there are fewer peaks in fuel consumption. When the car is accelerating, the 48V starter-generator is able to offer the driver an electric boost effect that can instantly put an extra 11 hp on tap for more dynamic power delivery. The result is a sharper response off the line and quicker bursts of speed when accelerating.

A special feature of the mild hybrid system is the ability to charge the 48V battery from the generator while driving at a constant speed. This method of generating electricity by raising the engine’s load point is only employed when the battery charge is low and during phases when it does not have a detrimental effect on engine efficiency.

The 48V starter-generator has the additional benefit of allowing the engine to be switched off and started again very swiftly with less vibration. The result is improved comfort when the Auto Start-Stop and coasting functions are in use. When the driver brakes for a stop, the engine can be switched off as soon as the car’s speed drops below 9 mph. And if the coasting function is activated, the engine is also completely shut off rather than just being decoupled from the drivetrain. This function is now operational at speeds between 16 – 99 mph and, on the new BMW 5 Series, it is available not just in ECO Pro mode but also COMFORT mode.

New, More Powerful Plug-in-hybrid Drivetrain

The 2021 BMW 530e and 530e xDrive Sedans receive enhanced performance from the latest generation of eDrive technology. A 181 hp 2.0-liter gasoline engine is complemented by a 107 hp electric drive unit, integrated into the 8-speed Steptronic transmission. When the Driving Control switch and transmission are set to SPORT, a new XtraBoost feature offers an additional 40 hp for up to 10 seconds when the throttle is depressed to the kickdown position. The combined power and torque of the new 530e and 530e xDrive Sedans is 288 hp and 310 ft-lbs of torque, an increase of 40 hp over previous 530e models.

A high-voltage 34 Ah / 12 kWh gross (9.09 kWh net) lithium-ion battery module provides the storage capacity for electric-only and performance-oriented driving.

The 530e Sedans also feature Acoustic Protection for Pedestrians, which uses an exterior speaker system to generate an unmistakable sound created specifically for electrified BMWs operating in electric-only mode at speeds up to 19 mph.

With the addition of XtraBoost functionality, the 530e and 530e xDrive Sedans can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 130 mph when equipped with all-season tires and 146 mph (143 mph for 530e xDrive) when equipped with performance tires.

BMW TwinPower Turbocharged Engines

All BMW four-, six- and eight-cylinder engines feature BMW’s latest TwinPower turbocharging technology which incorporates a single, twin-scroll turbocharger on the 530i and 530e four-cylinder models, and 540i six-cylinder models and two, twin-scroll turbochargers on the V8 M550i xDrive Sedan.

All engines feature High Precision fuel injection operating at 350 bar (5,076 psi), VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing, and double-VANOS variable camshaft timing.

The 2021 BMW 530i and 530i xDrive Sedans are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo variant of BMW’s modular engine family. This engine produces 248 hp and 258 ft-lbs. of torque propelling the Sedans from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds for the 530i Sedan and 530i xDrive Sedan. Both models will reach a top speed of 130 mph when equipped with all-season tires and 155 mph when equipped with performance tires.

The BMW 540i and 540i xDrive Sedans are powered by a 3.0-liter six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine producing 335 hp and 332 ft-lbs. of torque. This iconic inline-six engine variant allows the 540i sedans to sprint from 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds (4.6 sec. for 540i xDrive) and reach a top speed of 130 mph when equipped with all-season tires and 155 mph when equipped with performance tires.

The 4.4-liter V8 TwinPower Turbo engine in the M550i xDrive Sedan produces 523 hp and 553 ft-lbs. of torque propelling the sedan from 0 to 60 mph in a scant 3.6 seconds and allows it to reach a top speed of 130 mph when equipped with all-season tires and 155 mph when equipped with performance tires.

8-speed Sport Steptronic Automatic Transmissions

The Steptronic Sport transmission, standard in all 5 Series models, offers sportier shift characteristics and faster gear changes while shift paddles on the steering wheel allow for rapid manual gear changes. The eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission also includes a Launch Control function for powering off the line with optimal traction.

The latest version of BMW’s quick-shifting Sport automatic transmission features a new, optimized hydraulic control system for improved response and efficiency. A new generation of torsion dampers that reduce rotational irregularities within the powertrain helps to enhance both driving comfort and shift smoothness. Integral twin-damper systems for isolating vibrations reduce the degree of slip at the torque converter lock-up clutch.

Intelligent connectivity enables the 8-speed automatic transmission to adapt its shift strategy according to the route and driving situation. Working with the standard navigation system, the 8-speed Steptronic transmission uses data from this system and from the optional Active Cruise Control system’s radar sensor. This makes it possible for the transmission to avoid unnecessary gear changes when negotiating a series of fast corners and, when approaching a vehicle ahead for example, to shift down early in order to use the engine braking to scrub off speed.

Wheels, Tires, and Brakes

M Sport Brakes with Blue Calipers with M logos are available as an optional on all 5 Series models and are standard on M550i xDrive Sedan. A new option are M Sport Brakes with Red calipers and M logos, available on all new 5 Series models.

The four- and six-cylinder 5 Series Sedans come equipped with standard 18” x 8.0” alloy wheels with 245/45R18 all-season run-flat tires. Optional upgrades include: 19” x 8.0” alloy wheels with 245/40R19 all-season run-flat tires, 19” x 8.0” front / 19” x 9.0” rear alloy wheels with 245/40R19 front / 275/35R19 rear performance run-flat tires, and 20” x 8.0” front / 20” x 9.0” rear alloy wheels with 245/35R20 front / 275/30R20 rear performance run-flat tires.

The M550i xDrive Sedan is equipped with standard 19” x 8.0” front / 19” x 9.0” rear alloy wheels with a choice of either 245/40R19 front / 275/35R19 rear performance runflat or all-season run-flat tires. Optional are 20” x 8.0” front / 20” x 9.0” rear alloy wheels with either 245/35R20 front / 275/30R20 rear performance run-flat or Michelin Pilot Super Sport non-run- flat tires.

Photos: BMW

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