BMW 5 Series 520d unveiled; European debut in March

The ‘economical’ model of the latest generation 5 Series range, the 520d, has been unveiled by the German automaker. This model is India bound and will be prime volume mover for BMW when the car is launched in the sub-continent.

It will go on sale in the European markets in March while the Indian market should get it a shortly after. It will be assembled locally at the German automaker’s plant outside Chennai and be offered with a variety of styling options including the M Sport packages. 

Powering this 520d is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor producing 190bhp/400Nm. This engine has been mated to an eight-speed AT. Overall this is the same setup as the outgoing model but is quite a bit more efficient thanks to the lighter weight of the new generation car. It now has a 0-100kmph time of 7.5 seconds and has an EU test cycle rated fuel efficiency of 23.2kmpl.

This year will be a major time for the mid-size luxury sedan segment. All the competitors here are in their latest generation and bring with them a host of innovations that we can expect to see in cheaper cars within the next 10 years. This latest generation 5 Series will take on the Audi A6, Jaguar XF, Volvo S90 and the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class which will be the first car in the segment to be offered as long wheelbase.