[Mark]

The photography is really nice on this one. And the article is well written. I really enjoyed this writeup. Follow the link below for the full article, or just read the quotes.

We're now officially 37 years beyond the introduction of the first-generation 5 Series and we still haven't gotten over it.

When we're in take-it-easy mode, the new 5 Series feels damned near ideal and not boatlike in the least. Then we punch Sport+ in BMW's Driving Dynamics Control and knock out all the stability control systems when it's safe to do so, and the gnarlier spirit of the 2011 BMW 535i glows through the handsomely toned-down interior redesign.

Van Hooydonk and his team, like all design squads these days, have had to give paramount attention to new regulations that attempt to minimize injuries among pedestrians in the kind of low-speed impacts you see in crowded cities (a big deal in Europe, apparently), and this recent phenomenon has really changed the styling game.

BMW is going to try and keep the cost of the fully optioned Sport package to around $4,500 for North America and, honestly, this is another add-on for the 535i that you should add on.

Five laps of Estoril showed off the ability of this big car (the biggest in the segment) to feel less big than all of its competitors.

When we first saw the 2011 BMW 5 Series, the Munich executives told us that the base price of the 2011 BMW 535i would stay the same as the 2010 BMW 5 Series, which has a base price of $51,250. Well, maybe it was the intoxicating Portuguese sea air, but these same execs have just told us that the decision has been made to price this new and improved 5 Series below the outgoing model. Are we looking at a possible $49,999.99 base price for the 2011 BMW 535i? Wait and see.

Link to the full article: http://www.insideline.com/bmw/5-seri...rst-drive.html

** Also see the F10 5-series review compilation thread for more reviews.

[ebeem]

7(Series) + 3(Series) = (F)10

(F) 10 : 2 = 5 (Series)

the new 5er is a perfect combination of elements of the 3 Series and the 7 series

[kinan_sleiman2006]

The new executive star...bmw 5 series

[TsunamiFury]

Originally Posted by ebeem

7(Series) + 3(Series) = (F)10

(F) 10 : 2 = 5 (Series)

the new 5er is a perfect combination of elements of the 3 Series and the 7 series

This isn't a good thing in my opinion. The outgoing 5 may have its detractors, but its confident unique looks made you proud to own one. You didn't confuse it with a stretched 328i.

I do think its look are great, but they better give the F30 some bold and unique styling to set it apart.

[vladberca]

This car will have a lot of succes!

[pharding]

Great review. Great car. The photography is spectacular in this article.