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You won't frighten yourself, either, as the other equally important aspect of going fast, the ability to slow down, is looked after by the massive disc brakes at all four corners. A prod on the firm brake pedal is enough to quickly slough off speed back to sane and traffic-friendly double digits. The 5's capabilities don't end with the impressive straight-line performance. Even at parking lot speeds, you can appreciate its key technical feature, the Active Steering system. (I wonder why the Germans didn't come up with an acronym for that.) The usual variable-assist power steering, such as the electric type on the Z4, merely varies the amount of effort for turning the wheel, making it lighter at slow speeds and firmer as you go faster. Active Steering actually varies how much the road wheels turn for a given turn of a steering wheel. In other cars, you'll notice that, when taking a 90-degree corner at a slow speed, you have to twist the steering wheel through more than 180 degrees. If you keep your hands at 9 and 3 o'clock, your arms will end up crossed and you'll have to let go with one hand to complete the maneuver. With Active Steering, your arms won't even cross and you'll find the car making the turn. This quick steering ratio obviously won't do at high speeds, as the smallest movement of the steering will have the car pitching into the next lane. AS suitably lessens the ratio as the car's speed climbs, for a reassuringly stable feel even up to the car’s terminal velocity. It certainly works, but does it feel artificial? In slow corners, you feel the system adjusting, the planetary gears and servos doing their dance at the other end of the steering shaft. It's a bit disconcerting at first, as if the car can read your intentions. After a day of oversteering the car in some corners, you’ll soon be appreciating the variable inputs. Minimal body roll, neutral handling, compliant suspension and the sticky 16-inch Pirelli P7s all conspire to make the 5 corner with absolute confidence. |
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