BMW eyes Detroit show to unveil 5-series lineup

BMW is set to use the 2017 Detroit auto show as the debut stage for its next-gen 5-series lineup.The automaker will have the 540i, hybrid 530e iPerformance and M550 xDrive at the BMW stand.In October, BMW released photos and information on the sedan.

A host of technical and communications systems are borrowed from the flagship 7-series sedan, which includes semiautonomous driving and safety features, gesture controls for telephone and infotainment system, and the ability to park the car with the driver standing outside the vehicle.

The 5 series will compete against rival Mercedes-Benz with its technology-loaded E-class sedan, which went on sale in late June.BWM and its franchise dealer in Nigeria, Coscharis Motors had recently celebrated the brand’s premium customers during the firm’s yearly golf competition, promising that Nigerians would have a feel of latest variants.

President of Coscharis Group, Cosmas Maduka, reiterated at the occasion that the organisation traditionally sees the event as an opportunity to host, appreciate and celebrate all BMW customers and other players that have relationship with the brand.

Maduka, who was represented by the company’s Executive Director Fred Amobi, said: “The event is a platform we use to appreciate BMW customers who have been loyal to the brand over the years.”

New features in the 5 series include active cruise control that uses radar to adapt to traffic with stop and go as standard equipment, active lane-keeping and traffic-jam assist that work semiautonomously and operate at speeds up to 130 mph, and collision side avoidance that works at speeds between 40 and 130 mph.

Now in its seventh generation, the 5 series will be slightly larger than the current car — 1.2 inches longer, 0.3 inches wider and 0.6 inches taller — but weighs up to 137 pounds less because of wider use of lightweight materials.The 540i xDrive has a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that produces 335 hp and 332 pounds-feet of torque.

The 530e iPerformance combines BMW’s eDrive electric drive concept and a 4-cylinder gasoline engine for 248 hp and 310 pounds-feet of torque.On the other side of the spectrum, the M550i xDrive has a V-8 engine that has 456 hp and 480 pounds-feet of torque. BMW estimates that the performance sedan can hit 60 mph in four seconds.

BMW said the 530i and 540i are set to go on sale in February, while the 530e iPerformance and M550i xDrive are set to go on sale in spring 2017. Pricing for all variants will be released closer to the launches, BMW said.

BMW has sold 30,293 units of the 5 series through November 2016, down 26.4 percent from the same timeframe in 2015, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

BMW will also have the X2 concept at the Detroit show, which was first revealed at the Paris motor show and is expected to go on sale in the U.S. early next year.With four doors and coupelike styling, the X2 will be the stylish and sportier alternative to the X1.