While the BMW 3 Series replaced the ",New Class", coupes, the 5 Series replaced the sedans of that earlier range. Its most direct ancestor was the 2000 sedan. And while the 2000 earned accolades for both performance and accommodations, the 5 Series surpassed it in every measurable way. Some automotive pundits would say that it',s the finest range of sports sedans in the history of.
While the BMW 3 Series replaced the ",New Class", coupes, the 5 Series replaced the sedans of that earlier range. Its most direct ancestor was the 2000 sedan. And while the 2000 earned accolades for both performance and accommodations, the 5 Series surpassed it in every measurable way. Some automotive pundits would say that it',s the finest range of sports sedans in the history of things automotive. While those accolades are lofty, the 5 Series is certainly a landmark for both BMW and the entire automotive world.
The first 5 Series car, the 520, was introduced to Europe in 1973. With a mere 120 horsepower on tap, it was underpowered even by home-market standards. It was obviously not well suited to the U.S. market, and it was never introduced in America. But it was a solidly built automobile, and its styling was a departure from the somewhat clipped and conservative look that had characterized previous BMW sedans.
In 1975 the 530i introduced the new series to the American market. With a six-cylinder engine that delivered 176 horsepower, it was more than competitive with the emission-gear-gagged V-8 powerplants of mid-1970s U.S. automobiles. Its independent suspension and Getrag 4-speed manual gearbox made it excellent for spirited driving.
Over the years, the 5 Series advanced in both performance and prestige. A 218-horsepower M version entertained European drivers in 1979, and while it never made it to the U.S. market, it set the stage for the great BMW M versions to come. The second version of the 5 Series platform featured a refined suspension system, and the 533i, which landed in America with 181 horsepower, took advantage of it. The M5 came to America in the final year of the second-generation in 1988 and earned fame as one of the fastest street-legal sedans in America. The third-generation introduced a multilink rear suspension that further advanced the car',s roadworthiness, and a pavement-toasting M5 arrived in 1991.
In the years since, the 5 Series has continued to evolve, while setting benchmarks for mid-sized sports sedans. The latest generation, the fifth overall, offers fresh styling and a plethora of advanced technology, including electronic stability enhancement, steering ratios that vary with vehicle speed, parking-assist technology, and a state-of-the-art sound system. Both the new sheetmetal and the technology represent a rather large leap for a series that had evolved gradually, but the future beckons and BMW is striving to remain at the front of the automotive pack.
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