THE BMW 530e plug-in hybrid electric builds on the greatness of the class-leading mighty five series with a wide variety of technological innovations that remains way ahead of its time.
HE BMW 530e plug-in hybrid electric exudes a heightened sense of outward authority, an interior brimming with detail refinements, efficiency-enhancing influence of electrification, and cutting-edge innovations. Features like driver assistance, control/operation and connectivity help the new BMW 5 Series Sedan to cement its position as a particularly sporty, efficient and progressive addition to the premium end of the executive class. The wide variety of technological innovations onboard paves the way for the most tradition-rich model range in the BMW line-up to write another chapter in its success story.
The exterior design of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan is headlined by sporting grace and clean surfaces. Precise modifications showcase the car’s presence and exquisite sporting style even more vividly. The BMW kidney grille adds extra width and height, drops down further into the front apron and is framed by a single-piece surround. The slimmer contouring of the headlights brings a modern twist to the focussed look familiar from BMW’s past and present.
High-quality materials and precise workmanship bring a modern, premium ambience to the new BMW 5 Series Sedan’s cabin. Newly designed controls on the centre console and the standard sports leather steering wheel with newly arranged multifunction buttons headline an interior brimming with detail refinements.
The BMW Live Cockpit Plus features a black-panel instrument cluster with digital readouts, including a 5.1-inch colour display between them. A freestanding 10.25-inch Control Display with touchscreen functionality is also included. Other Live Cockpit Plus features include the iDrive Controller with a touchpad, a multimedia system, two USB ports, Bluetooth/WiFi interfaces, and a hands-free facility with a USB interface.Standard equipment for the new BMW 5 Series Sedan now also includes automatic air-conditioning with 4-zone control.
The new BMW 530e Sedan combines the latest-generation eDrive technology with a four-cylinder petrol engine, XtraBoost as standard, and model-specific sound tuning. The newly improved 184 hp four-cylinder petrol engine is partnered by an electric drive unit – producing a maximum output of 80 kW/109 hp – that is integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic transmission. For an added dose of sporting flair under particularly keen acceleration, the joint output of the two power sources can be increased by an additional 30 kW/40 hp to a maximum of 215 kW/292 hp for up to 10 seconds in a feature known as XtraBoost.
Further refinements have also been made to systems that make parking and manoeuvring easier in the new BMW 5 Series Sedan. The Parking Assistant Plus package helps the driver to select and make use of parallel and perpendicular parking spaces and takes over control of the accelerator, brakes, steering, and gear shifts. The system can also be used to pull out from spaces parallel to the road, and now includes a rearview camera and Park Distance Control with front and rear sensors. The Parking Assistant Plus package also features Park View, Panorama View and 3D Top View – these combine to create a 360° image of the vehicle and its surroundings from different perspectives in the Control Display.
Another notable advancement in connectivity is the enhanced Smartphone Integration feature. This system hosts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly, allowing drivers to access a large number of digital services from the car in the same way as on a smartphone. These include voice assistants such as Siri and Google Assistant (on Apple and Android systems respectively), music streaming services such as Spotify, and the WhatsApp messaging service.