Elegant new BMW 520i has subtle facelit

Elegant new BMW 520i has subtle facelit

Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Driving a new car means catching up on the latest technology and
design. Which was why I was so excited when given the opportunity
to test-drive the new BMW 520i.

With so many changes since the 5 series was launched 30 years
ago, I had expected to see the latest generation in the series
looking like it did in the magazines. The latest 5 series, which
will hit the market soon, looks more like the 3 series with its
sporty and dynamic design.

But the car that arrived at my office was hardly recognizable
from the previous generation.

The new features on the car are double-glazed windows that
offer a noiseless driving experience amid the hustle and bustle
of city traffic.

The front headlights are now equipped with white reflectors,
while the 16-inch alloy wheels enhance the dynamic performance of
the vehicle.

The interior is only slightly different, as the new car now
has Montana leather seats and wood panels on its dashboard with
the same old modest ergonomics, strengthening the image that the
car only belongs to top corporate executives with their suits and
shiny shoes.

Although the ergonomics are quite simple, the driver can still
monitor how much fuel is consumed per 100 kilometers depending on
how fast we drive. Another feature is that you can also monitor
the temperature outside the car and adjust the air conditioner
inside, manually of course.

Sorry to say but I almost burst out laughing when I found out
that the car's front seats and steering wheel had to be adjusted
manually. I couldn't even change the stereo from the steering
wheel.

To my disappointment, the steptronic transmission was so
simple, without any cruise control, which I saw earlier in the
BMW 330i -- which has the series' engine capacity at 2,979cc.

Despite my dissatisfaction, I was quite surprised that the car
could easily maneuver despite its size: it is 4.775 meters in
length, 1.8 meters in width and 1.435 meters in height.

The six-cylinder Valvetronic 2,171cc engine -- the smallest in
the 5 series -- resulted in a maximum output of 170 horsepowers
at 6,250 revs per minute (rpm) and a maximum torque of 210 Newton
meters at 3,500 rpm.

Although the top speed is 220 kilometers per hour (kph), there
is no way the car can reach that speed in the city with its
traffic jams.

During the test-drive in Tangerang-Jakarta and along the
inner-city toll roads, I could only get the car up to 140 kph.
Luckily, the toll roads were quite empty thanks to the
government's decision to prolong the Independence Day holiday.

Even at those speeds, the car was still able to maneuver
smoothly from one lane to another without losing stability, due
to its Automatic Stability Control (ASC).

When making a sudden stop, the brakes operated well thanks to
its Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and Cornering Brake Control
(CBC).

Satisfied with the car's speed performance, I tried it on some
sharp curves and on a U-turn off the toll road and the handling
was very satisfying.

To guarantee passenger safety, the car is equipped with six
airbags.

The car is also equipped with car and key memory features,
crash sensor, electronic temperature control and Park Distance
Control (PDC). The PDC is another improvement from the older
generation of 520i.

The BMW 520i is available for Rp 592 million (US$69,647).

Specifications

Dimensions
Length: 4,775 millimeters (mm)
Width : 1,800 mm
Height: 1,435 mm
Wheelbase: 2,830 mm

Engine
Capacity: 2,171cc
Maximum output: 170 hp at 6,250 rpm
Maximum torque: 210 Nm at 3,500 rpm
Top speed: 220 kph
Tank capacity: 70 liters