wheel32
12-31-2007, 07:19 AM
IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD, the digit '5' has great connotation. The legendary MS (as close to a four-door supercar as you can get) from the Bavarian powerhouse that is BMW is already an established byword for performance saloon but transcending that is the s-series on which this uber saloon is built. Propped-up on decades of hormonal massage, fine weight training and careful testosterone application (read that as under the hood), the s-series BMWs have managed to do for its maker what the E-class has achieved for BMW's great rival Mercedes-Benz - absolute top of the mind recall in the executive saloon class.
However unlike the E-class which is absolute first choice tackle for a smorgasbord of buyers across the spectrum: from company big wigs to high society rollers to taxi operators and the flashy trashy underworld don trying to garner a dash of respectability, the s-series is all about sporry ability for four and none the apologetic for that. Sporry in behaviour, sporty in performance, both of the mechanically induced type as well as the dynamically balanced kind, sporty in the esoteric manner with a live pulsating sensation being delivered to the man behind the wheel as he plays his tune tapping away at the tools of his trade in the cockpit, the s-series has been the class of the executive segment in Europe and it continues to occupy this high ground even to date.
And finally it is here in India and on sale now, the spanking new assembly operation which BMW commissioned at Chennai has begun rolling off the s-series range (in the form of the S23i, S2Si and S30i petrol-engined models while the singleton diesel is the S2Sd). The four-model strong s-series range features six-cylinder inline engines, an architectural signature which is so very BMW, just as much as Chrysler has Hemi writ large all over it and the VI2 is Maranello's calling card to site a couple of significant brand traits. A couple of months ago we were floored by the exquisite six-cylinder 32Si and while the Indian-assembled SS are all straight sixes, the fact that we opted for the 2993CC oil burning S2Sd was only out of an innocence which made us want to see if Munich had been able to replicate the soul and the passion of inline six-cylinder muscle and refinement even with a compression ignition motor.
The answer to that can already be deduced by the title to this feature on the opening spread but what has truly made the running among the enthusiast forums the world over has been the styling of the 5 series. The present s-series has been smoothened a bit but there yet lurk those myriad details which made the s-series such a hideously offensive steed some years ago. Over time though the Chris Bangle detailing has slowly been adopted by other car makers and what was once a touch-me¬not - flame surfacing anyone? - has now begun acquiring a sheen of respectability and praise for its originality as well! Ever since our test car in black sapphire rolled into our basement garage, the cleverly designed compact shape, akin to a 7-series on a diet appealed to us. And with subtle tweaks to bonnet and front dam, adoption of clear lens headlamps with the leading lip trailing off well into the top flowing fenders to accentuate the dynamic lines of the car leading into the A-pillar, the new s-series has dynamism well highlighted in the sheet metal.
30
The trademark twin kidney grille (now with chrome surrounds and longitudinal slats) resides in a subtle higher perch above the bumper line to literally mould into a great curvy detail on the bonnet. The wide mouth air dam in the bumper with those spot lamps at the extreme ends along with the new horizontal chrome strip bang in the centre of the air dam marks out all the six-cylinder s-series cars. There is something indefinable about a BMW when viewed in profile and this stands firm for saloon or coupe and it concerns two details: the subtly flared out wheel arches filled to the brim with low-pro rubber and that stance which suggests tenuous muscle waiting to unleash itself. The s-series has these traits, not in an overt form but in sufficient measure which makes it appear most compact yet endows it with that lithe fine-toned muscle that makes your eyes feast away on it.
That said, the s-series BMW compares well in presence with the E-class Mercedes. Two different approaches come into play here with the Mercedes being the longer of the two (48S4mm against the S2Sd's 484Imm) but it is the Beemer which seems to have made more optimum use of cabin space thanks to a longer wheelbase - 2888mm as against the 28S4mm of the elegant E-class. Visually the s-series as we mentioned does emerge as the more compact-sized of the duo but step into the cabin of the S2Sd and it is a larger living room than one would have bargained for. Thanks to the larger wheelbase and optimised seat design, the szSd offers expansive leg and elbow room for four large-sized adults to do the day long blast in fine style.
The interior of the 525d is more function with a bit of form and this works best given the character of the machine. Brilliantly crafted seats are key to this statement but there is more. The driver's seat features electrical actuation with built-in memory to suit individual settings. The dashboard with its bland looks is the only turn-off for me especially given the fact that BMWs of yore with their driver focused cockpit-like wraparound dashboards of the past have been dispensed with. Nevertheless the quality of the trim including the innovative dual-tone treatment on the door pads is pleasingly striking without being too much in the face. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is a delight and that joystick-type gear shifter for the 6-speed Steptronic 'box is welcome but seems at odds in such a conservative interior. Immediately behind the joystick on the central console is the controller for the iDrive system. BMW have tamed this detail massively in its second avatar and it is all the more user friendly for that. The Control Display unit is housed in the centre of the dashboard and with just eight buttons for driver or front seat passenger to twiddle, the menu may be brief but is quick on delivery. Climate contro\, radio tuner and hi-fi CD system plus communications can be accessed in a jiffy without much hassle.
31
It is not a BMW if it doesn't move you I have heard many state and not without reason. The S2Sd goes about its job of exhilaration in such an obvious manner that it is addictive and immensely heady. A load of credit is due to the inline six-cylinder motor. Beginning with ample displacement - 2993CC it builds on this with a new variable geometry turbocharger and the latest generation common rail diesel injection. Four valves per cylinder actuated by twin overhead camshafts provide the classic top end config. Add in clever electronic interplay and new age metallurgy, the inline engine is a jewel not just in terms of output and torque but also for the way it transmits forward motion to the rear wheels.
While 197PS (made at 4000rpm) is par for the course, the strong wallop comes by way of the 400N m of brute force that the 3.0-litre six
whips up. And too while spinning at a low 1300rpm. To put that into perspective is to revisit some of the newer common rail engined small cars on the market and see where they start making their serious power and twist force - anywhere near the 2000 rpm mark and that is where the difference in low down pulling power manifests so tellingly. BMW has mated its new 6-speed Steptronic transmission to this brilliant mill and the combination is electric. Shifts are lightning quick though one needs to be careful going down the 'box from high speeds for it can catch the unwary out pretty quickly.
Mechanicals may be key to great power and driveability but they wouldn't have done their bit if there wasn't an efficient means to lay that all down on tarmac and let rip. The new s-series has brilliant underpinnings in the form of aluminium suspension components delivering the benefits of lower unsprung masses, precise location and movement plus light weight. MacPherson struts up front is backed up by BMW's renowned Z-arm multi-link set-up at the rear.
And one needs that ability given the performance on tap. A standing start
dash to IOokm/h took us just 7.95 seconds and zero to 160km/h (which is hundred miles an hour) came up in 19.12 seconds. Not bad for a car tipping the scales slightly over the I.5 tonne mark. A top speed of 240.3km/h is not as stunning as is the mid-range thrust, that searing acceleration as you dispense with SX4S and other new bullies on the block. The 525d makes short shrift of them all while all the while making its pilot feel like the Red Baron notching up kill after kill.
As I mentioned earlier, the SS2d rewards those who venture forth to explore the top end of the performance spectrum that this car so obviously revels in. It is single-minded in its sporty appeal and delivery while the Mercedes-Benz E280CDI is the quintessentialluxo-charmer delivering a great ride. And again it is a question of which philosophy it is that you are buying, more than the car itself. And that is exactly where the BMW comes in, a sportily focused saloon which has few equals, if any.
However unlike the E-class which is absolute first choice tackle for a smorgasbord of buyers across the spectrum: from company big wigs to high society rollers to taxi operators and the flashy trashy underworld don trying to garner a dash of respectability, the s-series is all about sporry ability for four and none the apologetic for that. Sporry in behaviour, sporty in performance, both of the mechanically induced type as well as the dynamically balanced kind, sporty in the esoteric manner with a live pulsating sensation being delivered to the man behind the wheel as he plays his tune tapping away at the tools of his trade in the cockpit, the s-series has been the class of the executive segment in Europe and it continues to occupy this high ground even to date.
And finally it is here in India and on sale now, the spanking new assembly operation which BMW commissioned at Chennai has begun rolling off the s-series range (in the form of the S23i, S2Si and S30i petrol-engined models while the singleton diesel is the S2Sd). The four-model strong s-series range features six-cylinder inline engines, an architectural signature which is so very BMW, just as much as Chrysler has Hemi writ large all over it and the VI2 is Maranello's calling card to site a couple of significant brand traits. A couple of months ago we were floored by the exquisite six-cylinder 32Si and while the Indian-assembled SS are all straight sixes, the fact that we opted for the 2993CC oil burning S2Sd was only out of an innocence which made us want to see if Munich had been able to replicate the soul and the passion of inline six-cylinder muscle and refinement even with a compression ignition motor.
The answer to that can already be deduced by the title to this feature on the opening spread but what has truly made the running among the enthusiast forums the world over has been the styling of the 5 series. The present s-series has been smoothened a bit but there yet lurk those myriad details which made the s-series such a hideously offensive steed some years ago. Over time though the Chris Bangle detailing has slowly been adopted by other car makers and what was once a touch-me¬not - flame surfacing anyone? - has now begun acquiring a sheen of respectability and praise for its originality as well! Ever since our test car in black sapphire rolled into our basement garage, the cleverly designed compact shape, akin to a 7-series on a diet appealed to us. And with subtle tweaks to bonnet and front dam, adoption of clear lens headlamps with the leading lip trailing off well into the top flowing fenders to accentuate the dynamic lines of the car leading into the A-pillar, the new s-series has dynamism well highlighted in the sheet metal.
30
The trademark twin kidney grille (now with chrome surrounds and longitudinal slats) resides in a subtle higher perch above the bumper line to literally mould into a great curvy detail on the bonnet. The wide mouth air dam in the bumper with those spot lamps at the extreme ends along with the new horizontal chrome strip bang in the centre of the air dam marks out all the six-cylinder s-series cars. There is something indefinable about a BMW when viewed in profile and this stands firm for saloon or coupe and it concerns two details: the subtly flared out wheel arches filled to the brim with low-pro rubber and that stance which suggests tenuous muscle waiting to unleash itself. The s-series has these traits, not in an overt form but in sufficient measure which makes it appear most compact yet endows it with that lithe fine-toned muscle that makes your eyes feast away on it.
That said, the s-series BMW compares well in presence with the E-class Mercedes. Two different approaches come into play here with the Mercedes being the longer of the two (48S4mm against the S2Sd's 484Imm) but it is the Beemer which seems to have made more optimum use of cabin space thanks to a longer wheelbase - 2888mm as against the 28S4mm of the elegant E-class. Visually the s-series as we mentioned does emerge as the more compact-sized of the duo but step into the cabin of the S2Sd and it is a larger living room than one would have bargained for. Thanks to the larger wheelbase and optimised seat design, the szSd offers expansive leg and elbow room for four large-sized adults to do the day long blast in fine style.
The interior of the 525d is more function with a bit of form and this works best given the character of the machine. Brilliantly crafted seats are key to this statement but there is more. The driver's seat features electrical actuation with built-in memory to suit individual settings. The dashboard with its bland looks is the only turn-off for me especially given the fact that BMWs of yore with their driver focused cockpit-like wraparound dashboards of the past have been dispensed with. Nevertheless the quality of the trim including the innovative dual-tone treatment on the door pads is pleasingly striking without being too much in the face. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is a delight and that joystick-type gear shifter for the 6-speed Steptronic 'box is welcome but seems at odds in such a conservative interior. Immediately behind the joystick on the central console is the controller for the iDrive system. BMW have tamed this detail massively in its second avatar and it is all the more user friendly for that. The Control Display unit is housed in the centre of the dashboard and with just eight buttons for driver or front seat passenger to twiddle, the menu may be brief but is quick on delivery. Climate contro\, radio tuner and hi-fi CD system plus communications can be accessed in a jiffy without much hassle.
31
It is not a BMW if it doesn't move you I have heard many state and not without reason. The S2Sd goes about its job of exhilaration in such an obvious manner that it is addictive and immensely heady. A load of credit is due to the inline six-cylinder motor. Beginning with ample displacement - 2993CC it builds on this with a new variable geometry turbocharger and the latest generation common rail diesel injection. Four valves per cylinder actuated by twin overhead camshafts provide the classic top end config. Add in clever electronic interplay and new age metallurgy, the inline engine is a jewel not just in terms of output and torque but also for the way it transmits forward motion to the rear wheels.
While 197PS (made at 4000rpm) is par for the course, the strong wallop comes by way of the 400N m of brute force that the 3.0-litre six
whips up. And too while spinning at a low 1300rpm. To put that into perspective is to revisit some of the newer common rail engined small cars on the market and see where they start making their serious power and twist force - anywhere near the 2000 rpm mark and that is where the difference in low down pulling power manifests so tellingly. BMW has mated its new 6-speed Steptronic transmission to this brilliant mill and the combination is electric. Shifts are lightning quick though one needs to be careful going down the 'box from high speeds for it can catch the unwary out pretty quickly.
Mechanicals may be key to great power and driveability but they wouldn't have done their bit if there wasn't an efficient means to lay that all down on tarmac and let rip. The new s-series has brilliant underpinnings in the form of aluminium suspension components delivering the benefits of lower unsprung masses, precise location and movement plus light weight. MacPherson struts up front is backed up by BMW's renowned Z-arm multi-link set-up at the rear.
And one needs that ability given the performance on tap. A standing start
dash to IOokm/h took us just 7.95 seconds and zero to 160km/h (which is hundred miles an hour) came up in 19.12 seconds. Not bad for a car tipping the scales slightly over the I.5 tonne mark. A top speed of 240.3km/h is not as stunning as is the mid-range thrust, that searing acceleration as you dispense with SX4S and other new bullies on the block. The 525d makes short shrift of them all while all the while making its pilot feel like the Red Baron notching up kill after kill.
As I mentioned earlier, the SS2d rewards those who venture forth to explore the top end of the performance spectrum that this car so obviously revels in. It is single-minded in its sporty appeal and delivery while the Mercedes-Benz E280CDI is the quintessentialluxo-charmer delivering a great ride. And again it is a question of which philosophy it is that you are buying, more than the car itself. And that is exactly where the BMW comes in, a sportily focused saloon which has few equals, if any.