The sixth generation of BMW’s 5 Series sedan, which debuts this summer, still offers drivers a segment-leading array of premium safety, performance and luxury features, but now it delivers something new: The added confidence that can only come with being named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Achieving this recognition requires electronic stability control—a standard feature on all BMWs since the 2000 model year—and the highest possible ratings in four separate IIHS measures of safety, including a new roof-strength test that gauges a vehicle’s safety performance during rollover accidents. The redesigned 2011 5 Series thus becomes the first 5 Series vehicle to ever become an IIHS “Top Safety Pick.”
And that’s just one of the many safety breakthroughs showcased by the new 5 Series sedan. For example, its sophisticated use of advanced technologies includes an especially innovative approach to proximity-camera systems, which can help drivers cope with one of the most common causes of accidents: Parking.
First, the 5 Series offers an available back-up camera that provides images in full color and from an optimum perspective. The system then combines that display with interactive tracking lines to greatly simplify the entire parking process.
Then, there’s also Side View functionality, which relies on cameras in the 5 Series’ front bumpers to provide images of traffic moving crosswise with the vehicle. The result is that drivers get an early overview of traffic conditions to each side of the car, providing a notable advantage when pulling out of a driveway without clear sightlines.
Finally, BMW’s Top View capability uses a central processor to integrate data from the car’s backup camera, two cameras located in the side mirrors, and sensors in the front and rear bumpers to create a unique bird’s-eye view of the 5 Series and its immediate surroundings.
“Safety has long been a priority for BMW, so earning a ‘Top Safety Pick’ from the IIHS means a great deal,” said Jim O’Donnell, president of BMW of North America. “The press has praised the car and our consumers have eagerly awaited its arrival in showrooms. This award demonstrates that we left no stone unturned in the development of the all-new 2011 5 Series Sedan.”
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