Video: 2011 BMW 5 Series

This is the U.S. introduction of the car. It'll come on sale in June in 535 and 550i trims. This 5 Series ditches its predecessors more controversial look with sort of the eyebrow headlights and the more slab-sided exterior for something that really looks like it belongs between the 7 series and the 3 Series. Notice BMW's kidney grills. They're a little bit lower on the face, and they lean a little bit forward now. The headlights look more conventional. Really, I think this is a very solid looking car. A car that belongs, stylistically, after the beloved E39 5 Series from 97 to 2003. So, let's just kinda forget about the car that came between the two. Cabin materials are pretty good, but some might find the 5 Series a little more asteer, less inviting than cars like the Mercedes E-Class, the Infinity M. That's always been kinda true, and it remains true today. Still some cool stuff going on here. There's an a 10.2 inch screen for the center navigation display, that's absolutely huge. The climate controls here have settings that show up on this black panel that, otherwise, looks like a trim piece around it. Below them, real cup holders, not the flimsy flipout ones in a lot of other BMWs. BMW says this new 5 Series has a significantly longer wheelbase and a little bit larger overall dimensions than the outgoing 5 Series, but it still feels like a small car inside, and that's especially evident in the back seat. I've got plenty of thigh support here. The seat's nice and long, but six footers are definitely gonna find leg room a little bit tight. High tech features include a top-down bird's eye camera to help out with tight parking situations. And cars with a sport package will get BMWs adaptive drive with active roll stabilization that helps mitigate body roll when you're cornering real hard. The 535i has a 300 horsepower turbocharged six-cylinder. The 550i has a 400 horsepower turbocharged v8. Keep an eye out for those costing about 50 and $60,000 respectively. Or if you want something a little less expensive, there's gonna be a 240 horsepower 528i coming out later this year. <v Announcer>For more car related news, go to cars.com or our blog, kickingtires.net.