Local production bases go high-tech to ensure innovative German group maintains global market leadership

The all-new BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase makes its world premiere at the 2017 Shanghai International Auto Show today, and the seventh generation of the series is now the peerlessly progressive, dynamic business sedan to satisfy all aspirations.

The German premium brand expects the all-new BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase, with its cutting-edge innovations and luxurious features, to take a pole position once again as the segment leader.

"Our customers will really enjoy the seamless communication and entertainment options, as well as the advanced driver assistance systems," said Ian Robertson, a member of the board of management of BMW AG, at the world premiere in Shanghai.

"The all-new BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase is the most innovative and most connected vehicle in its class.

"It's no wonder that the BMW 5 Series is the bestselling premium model in the Chinese market, and it accounts for around 30 percent of our BMW sales here in China. I am sure that the all-new BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase will continue that success story."

As a business sedan with a high reputation and such a strong product backbone as the BMW family, all six generations of the 5 Series sold more than 8 million units worldwide.

Its global success over 45 years has become a legend in the auto industry.

The BMW 5 Series started local production in 2003 and has witnessed solid year-on-year growth in China. Local production of the long wheelbase version began in 2006.

The currently offered sixth-generation BMW 5 Series was introduced in 2010 and has been the most successful business sedan in China.

In the first quarter of this year, market demand remained very high, with nearly 13,000 units sold each month.

The sixth-generation BMW 5 Series sold more than 800,000 units in its seven-year life cycle in China, thus maintaining its leading position in the segment.

Johann Wieland, president and CEO of BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd, said: "The all-new BMW 5 Series Li will be built at the New Plant Dadong in Shenyang, Liaoning province, a brand-new facility using the ultimate in innovative production.

"It will refresh the benchmark as a forerunner for the Chinese automotive industry in terms of technological advancement, state-of-the-art manufacturing, and innovative production. Simply put, the all-new BMW 5 Series Li will be the most progressive and dynamic business sedan on the market."

All-new design

The dynamic styling of the all-new 5 Series Li features the BMW Adaptive Full-LED lights with BMW Selective Beams, hexagonal reinterpretation of the iconic design headlights and, for the first time, connected to the air inlet grille which visually makes the car look broader and more powerful.

Crease line and Hofmeister Kink intimately join each other.

The slim C-pillar connects to the rear of the car in a streamline like the smooth outline of a sports car.

The tail lights are more slender than their predecessors.

The air stream kidney grille contributes to aerodynamics and increases efficiency.

The all-new BMW 5 Series Li features a high-tech dashboard.

A unique feature of the segment is the large 10.25-inch touch screen in the central LED display, the 31.2 cm fully electrical instrument panel, up to a 70 percent increase in the projected area of the full-color Head-Up Display system combining the 17.8 cm intelligent touch command system from the rear seats.

Moreover, the central touch screen adopts the latest human-machine interface.

A range of cutting-edge technologies are featured on the all-new BMW 5 Series Li. Some of the technological features include the Welcome Light Carpet, panoramic sunroof and Sky Lounge; an ambient light package and air package; a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system for perfectly refined privacy; and substantially increased noise optimization in the rooftop, engine and transmission.

The all-new BMW 5 Series Li has been created exclusively for Chinese customers, tailored for what they prefer in terms of a wheelbase extended by 133 millimeters to a total of 3,108 mm.

Passengers in the back enjoy more space and comfort with larger and thicker seat cushions.

A Touch Command screen is also available for passengers seated in the rear.

The M Sport Package is provided to the locally produced BMW 5 Series for the first time as one of two optional design packages, which also includes Luxury Line.

Connectivity

Digitally connected, the all-new BMW 5 Series Li brings a cutting-edge high-tech experience with Human-Machine Interface, presenting four operating modes: iDrive, touch screen, natural language understanding and gesture control.

The natural language understanding mode has an intelligent voice assistant which recognizes Mandarin and Cantonese, as well as English.

BMW Connected is the newest highlight of the BMW ConnectedDrive system.

With Open Mobility Cloud, users can connect to the car through different networking portals to set their journey management schedule and arrival time to their destination. Remote 3D View is a new function on the all-new BMW 5 Series Li.

Furthermore, Apple Car-Play is featured on the new generation 5 Series Li for the first time, bringing seamless connection to iPhones.

Supreme handling

The all-new BMW 5 Series Li has segment-leading dynamic driving performance, with sharp and precise handling, along with a perfect weight distribution chassis and a highly efficient engine.

Production of the car body adopted 18 of the world's most advanced technologies, and reduced the weight of the long wheelbase version by up to 130 kilograms.

More than 30 types of materials were applied on the car body.

Aluminum alloy and high-strength steel parts were applied to reduce the weight while also strengthening the body.

The chassis was designed specifically for Chinese road conditions, and incorporated Chinese driving habits, with BMW engineers conducting extensive research on adjustment and tuning of the chassis.

Both driving and riding comfort are elevated to the next level by the rear air suspension, a unique feature in the segment, and by BMW's Adaptive Comfort Suspension with Vehicle Dynamic Control.

The new generation BMW 5 Series Li offers a high-level driver assistance system, enhances safety standards and comfort to an unprecedented level.

It provides a comprehensive high-tech system that includes a Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Lane Keeping Assistant with Active Side Collision Protection, Crossing Traffic Warning and Evasion Assistant.

Active Cruise Control can set speed function, automatically start and stop with extended timing intervals of 30 seconds.

The new Parking Assistant can also automatically park the car in a designated spot.

Production site

The New Plant Dadong will soon embrace production of the all-new BMW 5 Series Li.

The new plant will be a forerunner in the application of Industry 4.0 and the Made-in-China 2025 strategy.

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(China Daily 04/19/2017 page5)