BMW 520d Steptronic

We find ourselves developing a superiority complex in the latest BMW 5 Series

- By Ray Leathern, Nikesh Kooverjee, Damian Adams

• Price: R987 296
• 0 to 100 km/h: 7,95 seconds
• Top speed: 235 km/h
• Power: 140 kW
• Torque: 400 N.m
• CAR Fuel index: 6,24 L/100 km
• CO2: 137 g/km

When it comes to its 5 Series business saloon, BMW's raison d'etre has always been the ultimate driving machine. However, another critical phenomenon that has contributed to its continued sales success over the years has been government, embassy, and diplomatic sales. Interestingly, BMW South Africa has an entire sales division dedicated to this arm that includes 39 institutions like the World Bank, United Nations, and more. It is understood from our research that the company vehicle allowance for senior government officials may not exceed 70% of their salary. New directives in recent years from the South African Government, however, have been put in place to curb excessive spending on luxury cars by ministers. This has seen lavish, top-of-the-range models fall off the wish list in favor of more sensible offerings.

No surprises then that the seventh-generation 5 Series recently updated with a lifecycle improvement (LCI) – makes an ideal conveyance for the business, government, and diplomatic set. It offers 3 Series check ability (courtesy of a 100 kg weight saving over the previous-generation 5 Series) with radical, cutting-edge tech a la 7 Series. The result is a 7 Series in tight trousers that goes down a road with all the agility of a 3 Series.