BMW calls itself the Ultimate Driving Machine, and offering the best cars on the market has always been one of the company’s primary goals. However, in recent years, the automaker has been overshadowed by other luxury competitors such as Porsche, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi, which have introduced slick models that left BMW somehow outdated.

To regain its leading role and reclaim its former glory, the German automaker has just launched the totally revamped 5 Series, featuring remarkable versatility and technology, excellent motorizations, impeccable designs, and impressive technological systems.

Among other remarkable features, this brand’s offer includes:

• 2L, 3L and 4.4L engines, with 248hp, 335hp and 456hp respectively.
• The Sport M550i with a powerful V8 of 4.4L, Biturbo and 456 horses, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds.
• A very efficient hybrid plug-in version, with an autonomy of more than 500 miles, it consumes 60 mpg and has an independent electric operation with an autonomy of 15 miles.

One of the most notable innovations is the hybrid engine in the 530e iPerformance, which combines a 2L combustion engine with an electric range that delivers 248 horsepower. Such potency allows the driver to accelerate from 0 to 60 m/h in 6 seconds with extremely low consumption—60 mpg—and the option to use only electricity, thanks to the plug-in recharging system, with an electric range of up to 15 miles (perfect for city driving).

Among the conventional internal combustion engines, the 248-horse 2L Biturbo is the least powerful, a standard 3L version with 335 horses has excellent acceleration from 0 to 60 m/h in 4.9 seconds. And finally, the highly anticipated M550i with its 4.4-liter V8 and 456 horsepower engine, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds, which makes it the fastest in the history of the 5 Series.

An interesting technological addition to the range is the optional 4-wheel integral steering, a system that allows the rear tires to rotate in both directions to achieve smoother steering changes and a better steering radius.

Regarding safety, all versions have 360-degree perimeter monitoring cameras, lane assist, active cruise speed with automatic braking, pedestrian and collision detection, automated parking assistant, stability control, and intelligent all-wheel drive in the XDrive versions.

As a luxury feature, it is worth mentioning the option of a remote control key with LCD screen, which allows the owner to park and remove the car from its place without even being inside it.

[more-links]Another compelling technological feature is the car’s interaction with the new BMW application for mobile devices, from which you can configure your personal preferences for the vehicle, choose the aesthetics of the central screen, or monitor the car’s environment from a distance, accessing its perimeter cameras from anywhere in the world.

The console displays an integrated management system with touch screen, digital instruments, intelligent voice command, and amazing movement control that allows you, for example, to raise or lower the volume of music by moving your finger in circles in front of the screen.

With the new BMW 5 series, the German auto giant is back in a very competitive niche market, where consumers look for a modern and safe family car that is also fun to drive.  ■