The BMW 5 Series has once again trumped its competition and been named Most Popular Large Premium Car at 2016 Honest John Awards. Despite having been on sale for longer than many of its competitors, it has generated more page views than any other car in its class.
Dan Harrison from HonestJohn.co.uk, commented: “It’s the BMW 5 Series that has once again come out on top with our users, edging out the Jaguar XF. It remains the benchmark for handling among its counterparts, yet what appeals to our users is the economy and low running costs the 5 Series offers, allied to strong yet refined performance.”
The BMW 5 Series owes its popularity to its driving dynamics, design and efficiency. Thanks to EfficientDynamics technologies, fuel consumption is significantly lower as well as decreasing emissions. An example of this can be seen with the popular BMW 5 Series engine, 520d which achieves 69mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions as low as 109g/km.
With a comprehensive range of BMW ConnectedDrive features and BMW Business Navigation as standard plus unique services such as Intelligent Emergency Call with Accident Severity Recognition, the BMW 5 Series appeals to private and fleet buyers alike.
Since the start of production in 1972, a total of more than 7.5 million vehicles of the sixth-generation BMW 5 Series have been sold. With more than 347,000 customers worldwide opted for a BMW 5 Series Sedan, a BMW 5 Series Touring or a BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo in 2015.
Autocar names BMW M2 as its ‘Game Changer’ in 2016
At the annual Autocar Awards, BMW’s newest M car, the BMW M2 was recognised as a stand-out vehicle and named an Autocar ‘Game Changer’. This award was awarded to the industry’s high achievers for cars which have set new standards or defied convention.
Jim Holder, Editorial Director for Autocar, Pistonheads and Whatcar?, said: “The BMW proves that it’s still possible to make great performance saloons in the 21st century – and it may even be the greatest of its kind for a generation.”
Launched in April, the BMW M2 has gone from strength to strength winning other awards such as BBC Top Gear Magazine’s Coupé of the year last month.
Powered by a new, specifically developed, 3.0-litre straight-six engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the latest product from BMW M GmbH produces a formidable 370hp, enabling an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. When equipped with the optional seven-speed M DCT gearbox, the M2 can sprint from rest to 62mph in just 4.3 seconds.
BMW i8 tops its class for the second year running at the International Engine Awards
Following the overall victory and two class wins for the BMW i8 in last year’s International Engine of the Year Awards, the drive system powering the BMW i8 has once again triumphed in its class – the 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre displacement category – in this year’s competition.
The International Engine of the Year Awards were launched in 1999, each year an expert panel of judges, this time comprising 63 motoring journalists from 31 countries, selects the best examples in numerous categories. Since the awards launched a total of 67 class and overall wins have gone to power units developed for BMW models.
The plug-in hybrid drive system powering the BMW i8 combines the performance of a sports car with the fuel economy of a far smaller model. The three-cylinder combustion engine in the BMW i8 develops 231hp and drives the rear wheels, while the 131hp electric motor draws its energy from a lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a conventional domestic power socket and sends its power to the front axle. This bespoke plug-in hybrid system, developed and produced by the BMW Group, enables a range of up to 23 miles in the EU test cycle and a top speed of 75mph on electric power alone, coupled with a “glued-to-the-road” all-wheel driving experience headlined by powerful acceleration and a dynamically-biased distribution of power through keenly taken corners.
