2004 BMW 5 Series - How Does Perfection Improve?
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| The 2004 5 Series has a very attractive derriere, a relief to those offended by the current generation 7 Series. (Photo: BMW AG) |
BMW 5 Series fans, and there are a lot of them myself included, can breathe a collective sigh of relief. The next generation 5, officially introduced to the world yesterday, looks superb.
Why the worry? Well, not everyone applauded the controversial 7-Series when it was launched last year. Its odd rear end design caused the most commotion, followed closely by the iDrive systems interface. The 5 will get its own version of the electronic wizard, or should I say demon depending on your mastery of electronic gizmos, which for the record is much improved over its initial iteration.
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| The current 7 Series, while selling well, was initially panned by automotive critics, myself included, for its unorthodox styling. Its rear decklid and taillight treatment received the most attention. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
The new display screen is also better integrated into the dash than the 7, with functions directly at the driver's fingertips on either the stalk or the steering wheel. The sliding and rotating control knob on the center console continues to operate all non-critical functions. A Head-Up Display (HUD), that projects vehicle speed and other information on the windshield, is also part of the package.
But not to get stuck in a quagmire of the cool but respectfully unimportant, 5 Series aficionados are much more interested in performance. After all, it's the model's drivability that has caused it to lead almost every, "What car would I own if I could have only one" contest over the last two decades.