No timetable for downsized 5s

BMW is in no hurry to match archrival Mercedes-Benz with a range of petrol four-cylinder 5 Series models.

Launched this week in Portugal, the new F10 5 Series arrives Down Under in June, but only in six and eight-cylinder variants. The sole four-cylinder in the range, the auto-only turbodiesel 520d will hit Australian shores about 12 weeks later.

But there's no news of downsized four-cylinder petrol models to match the likes of Audi's TFSI 2.0 A6 and Mercedes' excellent E 250 CGI turbo 1.8-litre entry-level car. Indeed, BMW's 5 Series product manager Christian Bold told the Carsales Network that the Bavarian brand was "not close" to launching any four-cylinder petrol 5 Series models.

Bold suggested that the refinement of existing four-cylinder petrol powerplants was not suited to the 5 Series positioning or buying group.

"The 520d is our C02 champion. It's a very well developed powerplant and is well matched to 5 Series. I see [existing] four-cylinder petrol engines as not ready [for 5 Series] in terms of acoustic [refinement] and comfort," Bold said.

Bold stated the timetable for the arrival of such models is "left open", saying BMW was "not communicating any information" at this time.

"We will arrive [at a four-cylinder petrol solution] but it will take some time," he said.

"Engine capacity is not an issue [with 5 Series buyers]. It is only an issue where there are displacement taxes."

Bold said 5 Series buyers were not demanding four-cylinder engines, but favoured the traditional six-cylinder powerplants. The new 5 Series will launch in Australia with the six-cylinder 528i as the entry-level petrol model. The outgoing E60 5 Series also eschewed a 520i four-cylinder version locally, although such a car is offered in Europe.

At the other end of the 5 Series performance scale, Bold confirmed the next generation M5 would be the pinnacle of BMW's range in terms of performance, but not necessarily total power output.

"M5 will be the pinnacle performance car, but not the pinnacle car in sheer horsepower. That [role] has always been 760i," he explained.

"The M5 will be a very different character. More aggression, different target buyer group, less weight..."

This suggests that the much anticipated model will, at the most, pack the same 408kW punch as the recently released X6 M (and X5 M). Lugging around perhaps as much as 400kg less mass than the hyper-SUV, however, performance is set to be stunning.

Bold would not confirm timing or whether the M5 will be fitted with a version of BMW's M-DCT twin-clutch automated transmission or a further tweaked version of the new eight-speed sports auto fitted to the top 5 Series models. That said, we expect the M5 to follow the M3's lead and feature a twin-clutch 'box -- and perhaps be the first petrol F10 5 Series to feature auto-stop/start, to boot.

In this regard, at least, the M5 would therefore match the PDK and auto-stop/start combination pioneered by super-performance four-seater and key M5 rival, Porsche's Panamera.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi