Expanded performance
Setting the 535i apart from other six-cylinder sedans is a pair of turbochargers- and probably a lot of hooves, as in horsepower. If this honey-sweet mill could say, "I do," the next words heard would be, "till death do us part." There's no doubt it's got a pulse; a 300 horsepower pulse that includes 300 pound-feet of torque at an astonishingly low, 1,400-rpm.
Run that sort of punch through a six-speed autobox, and outlandish acceleration cometh. Like most other thinking/breathing auto journalists, I marvel at the smoothness and ferocity of this engine. Its powerband is broad and unforgiving from idle to redline. Yes, it's hard to exercise prudent restraint behind the wheel, especially when exploiting BMW's electronic manual mode stick- it's heaven in the hand.
Ride and handling via Dynamic Drive
Like cracking the original Enigma-code, finding harmony between the juxtaposing poles of ride and handling is elusive at best. With their optional Dynamic Drive technology, BMW has done it. I'm not sure there is any other suspension technology that masters these opposites any better.
Ride compliance is more gracious, stable and composed than I expected given the vehicle's impressive handling characteristics. The 535i corners dead flat while holding its line with deft precision. If there's a blemish on the car's magical underpinnings, it is the subtle intrusion of suspension noise into the catacomb cabin.
Emergency braking does little to upset the 535i's composure; nosedive is for the most part non-existent when the powerful binders grab hold. Brake response is immediate, predictable and linear.
Cornering via Active Steering
I know some folks are less enthusiastic than I am about BMW's Active Steering technology, which like Active Drive has been around for a couple of years now. I'm a big fan of Active Steering. Due to its ability to sharply increase turning rates at low speed, some behaviour modification is necessary to ensure you don't inadvertently clip a curb or obstacle during slow speed maneuvering.
Setting the 535i apart from other six-cylinder sedans is a pair of turbochargers- and probably a lot of hooves, as in horsepower. If this honey-sweet mill could say, "I do," the next words heard would be, "till death do us part." There's no doubt it's got a pulse; a 300 horsepower pulse that includes 300 pound-feet of torque at an astonishingly low, 1,400-rpm.
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| A prizewinning state-of-the-art engine. |
Run that sort of punch through a six-speed autobox, and outlandish acceleration cometh. Like most other thinking/breathing auto journalists, I marvel at the smoothness and ferocity of this engine. Its powerband is broad and unforgiving from idle to redline. Yes, it's hard to exercise prudent restraint behind the wheel, especially when exploiting BMW's electronic manual mode stick- it's heaven in the hand.
Ride and handling via Dynamic Drive
Like cracking the original Enigma-code, finding harmony between the juxtaposing poles of ride and handling is elusive at best. With their optional Dynamic Drive technology, BMW has done it. I'm not sure there is any other suspension technology that masters these opposites any better.
Ride compliance is more gracious, stable and composed than I expected given the vehicle's impressive handling characteristics. The 535i corners dead flat while holding its line with deft precision. If there's a blemish on the car's magical underpinnings, it is the subtle intrusion of suspension noise into the catacomb cabin.
Emergency braking does little to upset the 535i's composure; nosedive is for the most part non-existent when the powerful binders grab hold. Brake response is immediate, predictable and linear.
Cornering via Active Steering
I know some folks are less enthusiastic than I am about BMW's Active Steering technology, which like Active Drive has been around for a couple of years now. I'm a big fan of Active Steering. Due to its ability to sharply increase turning rates at low speed, some behaviour modification is necessary to ensure you don't inadvertently clip a curb or obstacle during slow speed maneuvering.
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| Balance between comfort and handling at its best. |