BMW - E60

The development programme for the E60 began in 1997, concluding in 2003. The final design, penned by Davide Arcangeli under the directorship of Chris Bangle, was approved in 2000 and German design patents filed on April 16, 2002.

While its predecessor, the E39, shared many features with the 7 series, the E60 was different to other BMWs in production at the time. The E60 is longer, wider, heavier and higher than the previous model, which translates into more interior and trunk space. The E60 also introduced a different style to the 5-series line including a much rounder body, and an interior, unlike the driver-oriented E39, that is flat like the E65 7-series with an LCD display, basic buttons and iDrive system.

The E60 received much acclaim from the automotive community, prompting specialist companies to produce aftermarket parts for it, including copies of M-Sport parts. For example, Hamann, AC Schnitzer, Hartge, and Dinan flooded the market with parts for the E60 which were cheaper than the originals. Furthermore, many after market performance parts were produced for the already swift E60.

A derivative of the E60 is the E63/E64 which forms the iteration of the 6 Series coupe. A factory-stretched long-wheelbase version of the E60 5-Series was offered in China, as a response to the Audi A6 L. It offered much of the rear legroom of a large executive saloon (e.g. BMW 7-Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class), but in a cheaper, simpler model. As of 2009, trim levels included the 520Li, 523Li, 525Li, and 530Li.

The E60 body was made using aluminium for the front of the car, and steel for the passenger cabin and rear thus making 50:50 weight balance.[7] E60 was available with BMW's xDrive system in 525xi, 528xi, 530xi, 535xi, 525xd and 530xd models.

The BMW M5 is powered by a 5-litre V10 engine. Revving to 8250 rpm, the engine produced 507 hp (378 kW) at 7750 rpm and 520Nm (383 lb-ft) at 6100 rpm.[14] 0–100 km/h time is 4.7 seconds (although this has proven to be a conservative number. Tests have shown it to be capable of 4.1 seconds with the 6-speed manual and possibly faster with SMG's launch control program) while top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155 mph).

The 5 Series Security is an armoured version of the BMW 5 Series sedan with ballistic protection level B4. It included a choice of 367 PS (270 kW; 362 hp) V8 (from BMW 550i) and 258 PS (190 kW; 254 hp) I6 (from BMW 530i) engines, high-performance fibre composites (aramid, polyethylene) and special-purpose steel reinforced chassis, 21 millimetres thick glass with a polycarbonate layer for the windows.

The vehicle was unveiled in 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. BMW 5 Series Security was manufactured alongside the series model at BMW's Dingolfing plant, with armouring prepared before being shipped to a specialist facility in Toluca, Mexico, where the vehicles complete the final assembly stage.