BMW 5 Series enters the NG6 era: The all-new, six-cylinder 523i, 525i and 530i with VALVETRONIC NG6 engines

- New-generation 6-cylinder (NG6) engines, with magnesium/aluminium
composite construction & Valvetronic variable valve lift offer more
power, increased performance - All-new 523i expands the 5 Series range
and appeal, with an exciting value proposition offering excellent value
for money - Optional M Sports Package equips the 5 Series with more road
presence, even greater dynamic handling ability Pezula. Today, most
6-cylinder engines are V-6s. By contrast, BMW's "sixes" are
inline engines, noted not only for their layout, but also for the
exceptional smoothness and unique sound - just two elements of the
Sheer Driving Pleasure every BMW offers. Whilst competitors are envious
of these engine characteristics, BMW customers and independent critics
treasure them for these attributes. Understandably, BMW has retained
this inline-6 layout but has developed it even further toward reduced
weight, more compact dimensions and even more dynamic performance,
smoothness and sound. The result? The new-generation 6-cylinder (NG6)
engines, which first debuted on the new BMW 3 Series (E90), bring even
greater performance and driveability to the BMW 5 Series range.
Significantly, the introduction of these new engines establishes a new
benchmark vehicle offering a significant value proposition in the
luxury vehicle market. The all-new 523i expands the appeal of the 5
Series, slotting below the new NG6-equipped 525i and 530i in the range.
At the same time as BMW 5 Series' benchmark performance and dynamics
take yet another leap forward, the newly available M Sports
aerodynamics package designed by the BMW M styling studio enhances the
sporty image of the vehicle. This is further accentuated by 18-inch M
Double spoke 135M alloy wheels (similar in design to the 19-inch units
on the BMW M5) and M Sports suspension with vehicle lowering. The M
Sports package also features an anthracite roof lining and newly
developed aluminium Cube Pure interior trim strips, while an M Sports
steering wheel and sports seats add to the performance bias this package
offers. The first six-cylinder with second-generation VALVETRONIC.
Featuring a composite magnesium/aluminium crankcase and VALVETRONIC for
even greater efficiency and dynamic performance, this range of engines
(dubbed NG6) offer dramatically improved performance compared to the
outgoing M54 engine family, on all fronts: - Greater power: 190kW vs.
170kW for the 530i, 160kW vs. 141kW for the 525i. The 523i is new to
the range and boasts 130kW. - Greater torque: Torque unchanged at
300Nm on the 530i but with even stronger torque delivery across a broad
range of engine speeds, 250Nm vs. 245Nm for the 525i. The 523i has an
impressive 230Nm of torque. - Higher revving ability. The new NG6
engine range's maximum engine speed is 7000 rpm vs. 6500 rpm for the
predecessor range. - Fuel efficiency. On average, the new NG6 engines
offer a 7 percent decrease in fuel efficiency on all models -
impressive performance when the increased power and torque are
considered. The key performance and fuel consumption figures are: 523i
8.5 sec, 235 km/h, 8.5 litres/100 km 525i 7.5 sec, 245 km/h, 8.7
litres/100 km 530i 6.5 sec, 250 km/h, 8.8 litres/100 km (0-100km/h,
Max. Speed, Avg. Fuel Consumption) - Reduced weight - 10kg less. Had
BMW engineers evolved the M54 engine to meet their goals, it would have
weighed 14kg more than its base weight. On the other hand, the NG6
engines are 10kg lighter than their M54 predecessors. - More compact -
because there is just one external drive belt vs. the previous two,
overall engine length is about 2.5 cm shorter. Valvetronic variable
valve lift. The new BMW NG6 power plant is the first engine to feature
second-generation VALVETRONIC allowing the engine to run at an even
higher speed. This is made possible by the much stiffer structure of
the engine and, as a result, higher acceleration speeds in operating
the valves. The advantage for the driver is even more sporting
performance and speed reserves in the various gears. Progress at its
best: more power on less fuel. Customers benefit from the new
straight-six power units through the significant improvement of output
and torque with fast-revving engine characteristics and turbine-like
smoothness, and from a further reduction in fuel consumption. The new
2.5 litre NG6 engine in the 523i ensures that 90 per cent of the
maximum torque of 230 Nm is maintained consistently between 1,500 and
6,000 rpm, while engine output is an impressive 130kW, comparable to
the outgoing 141kW 525i. However, output of the new NG6-equipped
2.5-litre 525i is up by 19 kW to 160kW, with an increase in maximum
torque by 5 Newton-metres over the former model, with more than 90
percent of the maximum torque available between 1,750 and 6,700 rpm.
Output of the new 3.0-litre NG6 power unit in the 530i has also
increased, this time by a considerable 20 kW to 190kW. With output per
litre of 63.3 kW this engine offers the highest specific output of all
power units in its class, maintaining at least 90 percent of its 300Nm
maximum torque consistently between 1,500 and 6, 700 rpm. These
powerful torque curves, over a wide speed range, form the foundation for
the car's superior driving performance and flexibility. On average, for
example, acceleration times from 0-100 km/h are approximately 5 per cent
better than before. At the same time BMW's engineers have succeeded
in reducing fuel consumption, depending on the model, by up to 10 per
cent. The average improvement in fuel consumption over the previous
models is a remarkable 7 per cent. The lightest production
six-cylinder in its class. In introducing this new NG6 range of
engines, BMW is continuing its role as a pioneer in engine development.
The use of composite magnesium/aluminium technology marks a milestone
in engine construction - for the first time in modern engine building,
BMW is using magnesium in the large-scale production of a water-cooled
crankcase, on the bedplate and the cylinder head cover. The
revolutionary composite magnesium/aluminium crankcase weighs only 57
percent of a comparable grey-cast iron block, while the weight advantage
over an all-aluminium engine is 24 percent. This means that BMW's NG6
power unit, weighing 161 kg overall, is the lightest six-cylinder in
its class the world over. For this reason alone, the engine ideally
supplements the lightweight construction of the BMW 5 Series made
entirely of aluminium at the front all the way to the A-pillars. BMW's
engineers refer to this technology as the weight-reduced aluminium
front section. With aluminium being two-thirds lighter than steel,
customers benefit from this reduction of weight in terms of enhanced
fuel economy, greater dynamism, and exemplary agility. Innovations:
lightweight camshafts, electrical coolant pump. Following the
revolutionary composite magnesium/aluminium crankcase, lightweight
camshafts make the largest individual contribution in minimising the
weight of BMW's new NG6 engine. The so-called composite camshafts are
made by inner high-pressure moulding of a steel tube, with cam rings
made of high-strength stainless steel fitted on top. This reduces the
weight of each individual camshaft by a significant 600 grams. BMW's
new straight-six also comes with further innovations. On the NG6 range
of engines, BMW uses an electric water pump for on-demand control of
the coolant flow. Accordingly, the electric pump makes a significant
contribution to the reduced fuel consumption NG6 engines offer.
Character of the 5 Series: the essence of sport and luxury The 5 Series
has long been one of BMW's true core products, elegantly defining the
middle of the line with compact exterior dimensions, ample interior
space and a masterfully calibrated blend of dynamics and luxury.
Launched in 2004, the current generation E60 5 Series maintained the
exterior size of its E39 predecessor while increasing interior space
and introducing new technologies - including the aforementioned
aluminium front-end structure, available Active Steering and Active
Roll Stabilization, evolved aluminium suspension and an evolved iDrive
control system. That the current generation carries on the 5 Series
tradition brilliantly is supported by this quote from American
magazine, Motor Trend's March 2005 issue: "Here's a thoroughbred,
the product of decades of setting the benchmark all other automakers'
sport sedans aspire to. Just look at the stance, the way the body sits
on the chassis, ready to pounce on any opportunity to show its stuff on
a challenging stretch of road. The smoothness and flexibility of BMW
inline-sixes are legendary, and the 190kW of the 2996-cc engine seems
even more spirited than the numbers suggest. And BMW is one of the only
automakers courageous enough to offer a 6-speed manual gearbox in a
luxury sedan." Pricing BMW 523i NG6 (with 6-speed manual
transmission): R341 000.00 BMW 525i NG6 (with 6-speed manual
transmission): R379 000.00 BMW 530i NG6 (with 6-speed manual
transmission): R440 000.00 BMW 523i NG6 (with 6-speed Steptronic
transmission): R355 000.00 BMW 525i NG6 (with 6-speed Steptronic
transmission): R393 000.00 BMW 530i NG6 (with 6-speed Steptronic
transmission): R454 000.00 BMW 530i NG6 (with 6-speed SMG
transmission): R453 000.00