High fives
Radically new BMW 530i actively improves handling

When even staid Volvo not only produces, but can't keep up with demand for its high performance S60 R and V70 R vehicles, you know there's a thirst for power and responsiveness within luxury car circles. Fleet-footed Audis, Cadillacs and Infinitis are hitting the market for 2004, among many others, all chasing the performance-oriented buyers that have flocked to BMW recently.

The secret to BMW's popularity (and record sales) in Canada and the U.S. over the past few years comes down to the brand's athletic nature, said Tom Purves, BMW of North America chairman and CEO. "Society today values sportiness and athleticism, as perfectly represented by BMW," he said at the North American debut of the new 5 Series.

This is true in all of BMW Group's vehicles, said Purves, and it's a fun quality the company strives to maintain. "Get into a MINI Cooper, you get out with a smile; get into a 3 Series convertible, you get out with a smile. Get into a Rolls-Royce, and you're already smiling."

The biggest grins from the all-new BMW 5 Series are yet to come, with the advent of a V10, 500-plus hp M5 in the works. Our tester was a nicely loaded 530i, which shares the same velvety smooth, if not overpowering 3.0-litre, inline six with the outgoing 530i - and nothing else.

The 530i will be the new base offering, to start at $66,500 with a 6-speed manual transmission. With options, our tester topped out at just over $77,000 and included bumper-saving beepers (Park Distance Control in official-speak), a super quick steering system (Active Steering), heated rear seats and headlights that swivel with the steering wheel (Adaptive Headlights), among other high-tech features.

Higher up the price and content scale is the 545i, which starts at $77,700 and now uses the 745i's advanced, Valvetronic-equipped 325 hp V8. Despite the identical displacement, it's not a mere upgraded version of the older 4.4-litre V8 that came in the 2003 540i. The badge on the 545i's tail is therefore closer to reality, but still not accurate.

Sampled back-to-back with a traditionally steered '04 530i, the difference is apparent at the first low speed turn. Where a half turn of the steering wheel in the base 530i was needed to negotiate the first pylon, only a quarter turn was needed with the Active Steering and Dynamic Drive-equipped model (these two features make up a worthwhile $3,700 handling package). This allows for easier parking and U-turns.

At higher speeds, the new 5 acts much like its outgoing predecessor. Smooth, controlled cruising is pleasantly quiet, though with a dedicated flat stance on off-ramps. The 530i's engine also hasn't changed, still producing 225 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque from its inline six. Its output is somewhat unimpressive on paper, especially for a company so dedicated to performance, but it acts in quiet, refined cooperation to every throttle input. It's not slow, as its 7.0 second zero to 100 km/h time attests, just not as sprightly as some sport sedans at - or below - this price range.

Canada no longer gets the less powerful 525i, at least for the short term, although BMW Canada says it might return at some point. Its elimination is somewhat surprising, given that it was the only 5 Series that started in the $50,000 range in 2003, and new generation 5 prices are up between five and six per cent in Canada.

Inside, the new 5 receives more hand-me-downs from the 7 Series, in the form of a simplified iDrive system. It now has a large button near the iDrive controller that will bring up the main menu, which helps when you select the wrong function. I counted six different push/twist functions necessary to program one radio station, and that's if you get the sequence right. Yet after the system is set up the way you want it, the stereo can thankfully be controlled with steering wheel mounted controls.

It takes a while to get used to, but iDrive does make some sense after you've lived and fiddled with it for a while. The screen mysteriously went blank one frosty morning, even after a couple of restarts, leaving only basic climate and stereo controls, but came back to life a few hours later. It still requires lots of attention to adjust the climate controls, but the 5's iDrive is much easier than the original system in the 7 Series.

The latest 5 also comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic. The clutchless manual SMG tranny will be available at some point next year, as will futuristic touches such as a colour head-up display, multimedia rear seat entertainment package and active cruise control.

The smooth shift feel, the silky power delivery, the complete lack of any unrefined noise or vibration and the industry-leading steering response of the 530i impresses the most. After having our 530i for a week, and sampling the much more powerful 545i for a couple of hours recently, the 545i is by far the more entertaining of the two. Given that a base 545i is basically the same price as our almost fully loaded 6-cylinder tester, I'd give up some high-tech goodies to get the sparkling throttle response of the V8 into this unflappable chassis.

Yet even with the six, once you get into this car, you'll get out smiling.

Immediate competition:
Audi A6, Jaguar S-Type Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Lexus GS 300