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Then the big inline-6 diesel grumbles to life with hardly any noise or vibration. You’ll hear the engine rattle only when you open the front windows and poke your head out. That the new 5 was initially available only with this engine speaks something about the company's confidence in the oil -burner. The heart of the 5 is as formidable as the exterior would have you expect. There are the usual modern-diesel accolades: quiet, can't believe it's a diesel, and so on. This one goes beyond that by dishing up rocket-ship acceleration. Press down firmly on a clear piece of road and prepare to have the car propelled forward at warp speed. You might miss the spine-tingling soundtrack of a gasoline inline-6, but you'll have much more in return for it. How does 218 bhp and 500 Nm of torque sound? 218 bhp is quite good, but let's put that second number into perspective. It's more than double that of the next lower engine available on the 5, the 2.5 liter inline 6. 500 Nm is closer to what you’d expect from a big-block V8 of at least 5.0 liters. Even the V-12 Ferrari F50 has about 30 Nm less than this car. Since torque equals acceleration, this translates to quickness at any speed. 0-100 km/h takes a mere 7.3 seconds. All the torque is channeled to the rear wheels, with the six-speed automatic providing seamless transitions from one gear to the next. Prompt kickdowns and revving to near redline are part of the gearbox’s programming. What's not supercar-like is the fuel mileage: 9.56 km/liter including runs at top speed will give even a Corolla a run for thriftiness, and that's with cheaper fuel, too. A plethora of chassis electronics—ABS, CBC, ASC, DSC, DTC, DBC—keeps wheelspin in check, and the car pointing the right way forward. The 530d absolutely will not stop—accelerating that is—until you reach its top speed. With most mortal cars, top speed is a theoretical value that's graphed on some asymptotic scale, with quick progress at first, then a slow struggle as speeds build up. The 5 has no trouble at all reaching its top capability of 243 km/h. If you lived in Germany, you can drive to work and max it out every day. Or even if you lived in Lipa, Batangas, at the far end of the Star Tollway. You won't even frighten the wife and kids, as the ride feels composed at speed, even on the less than glassy surfaces of our local autobahn. |
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