2021 BMW 5-Series Facelift Premieres, Reaching Showrooms In July Carscoops
BY BRAD ANDERSON
POSTED ON MAY 26, 2020
This is the facelifted 2021 BMW 5-Series, complete with a sharp new look and bringing with it a host of new technologies.
The exterior design is easily discernible from the outgoing 5-Series model. Found up front are new standard Adaptive LED headlights that are slimmer in profile and complete with two L-shaped daytime running lights. These DRLs double as the turn signals. Spin around to the rear and you will find new taillights and trapezoidal tailpipes.
Changes have also been made to the M Sport Package with new front and rear bumpers, enlarged front air intakes, a rear trunk lid spoiler, and a re-sculpted rear diffuser.
One of the most important upgrades made over the outgoing model is the implementation of a mild hybrid system with a 48V starter-generator that offers enhanced performance, better efficiency and improved driving comfort in all six-cylinder 5-Series models. This piece of tech includes brake energy regeneration which kicks in when the driver releases the accelerator, transforming the kinetic energy into electricity to be stored in the 48V battery. Energy recuperated is supplied to the 12V electrical system and powers the lights, steering, power windows, ventilation, audio system, and seat heating. Stored energy can also be used to provide additional drive power.
Sitting at the base of the hybrid range in the U.S. is the 2021 BMW 530e and 530e xDrive. Powering the duo is a 2.0-liter petrol engine with 181 hp and supplemented by a 107 hp electric drive unit incorporated into the 8-speed automatic transmission. Combined power sits at 288 hp and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque. Both variants can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 5.7 seconds and reach 130 mph (209 km/h) on all-season tires and 143 mph (230 km/h) with performance tires for the 530e xDrive and 146 mph (234 km/h) for the 530e.
Elsewhere in the 5-Series range is the 2021 BMW 530i and 530i xDrive models, both using a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 248 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque, good enough for 0-60 mph (96 km/h) times of 5.9 seconds for both models.
The six-cylinder range kicks off with the 540i and 540i xDrive, both using a BMW 3.0-liter six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine rated at 335 hp and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm). The 540i can hit 60 mph in 4.9 seconds while the all-wheel drive 540i xDrive achieves the same mark in 4.6 seconds. Topping out the U.S. range is the updated M550i xDrive featuring a 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo engine with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h)
I like the 3/4 view taken from the back. Something about the front doesn't excite me, my first thought to say was there is to much going on, but on second look it looks typical BMW clean. Maybe what is there looks a little heavy handed - the side vent, large grill slats with large air vents and non-circular headlights. I notice it more on the white one.
If I saw one in the wild, I'm not 100% sure I'd know this is a facelifted vehicle, meaning "what changed"?
Looks like a BMW to me, but that 550i sounds pretty slick 523hp TTV8 w/ a 60 time of 3.6s...With this type of performance below the full blown M, will the M5 dip below 3s?
It will be crazy fast for sure..but i'm more interested to see if some other rumors come true.There was/is some rumors of a new S68 engine in development (4.0 l v8 TT) and that it could be introduced in M5 CS.
I will put this out there......................... I used to like BMW's, and I think the body, minus the front looks good. What I can't stand is the giant oversize kidney grilles they are slapping on everything. They look terrible on this, and they are completely hideous on the SUV's and 7-series.
When we were shopping for a car for my son, BMW's were in the running. Then he / we drove a 535i, and were not impressed (it was a 2016). It was soft, and I have never been a fan of the sitting in a bathtub feel with a high cowl. This is in stark contrast to airy cabins in the Audi's. He also drove a 335i M-sport, and it was better, but the engine still felt lazy.
With no feedback from me, my son eliminated the BMW's from his consideration list based on those drives.
The new kidney grill is brutal, it used to have an understated elegance where it was merely an element of the front end. Now it's overdone and to dominant.
Though I think Cadillac is going to a similar approach to BMW. It used to be all BMW's handled well, now you have to check the right boxes for handling. Looks like the new CT5 and CT4 are going that route also.
I like everything about it but the scoops? under the headlights, they need to go. One thing about it, for the most part their style is pretty consistent and you don't need to wonder what it is.
Looks good IMO. I’m glad they didn’t go crazy with the grille like other recent BMW efforts.
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