Test drive BMW 5 series E60 2003 - 2007 sedan

Strong in mind

No matter what the rapid sheds say about and, no matter how tried to introduce the concepts of Sportwagon or Sportback into our vocabulary, we still perceive the station wagon as a cargo-passenger version of the car, where the main thing is the volume and convenience of using this volume. Universals, according to tradition, are more expensive than the steamed sedans. It's time to look at the example of two newcomers to the market, for which, except for the increased cubic meter of the luggage compartment and the janitor on the back glass, we pay this money.
 
1 such width. For some reason, the BMW press release compares the new Touring of the third series with its predecessor, and not with the current sedan. Probably because completely different people buy sedans and station wagons. Touring relative to his predecessor added in length, width and height 42, 78 and 9 mm, respectively. Regarding the current sedan, he did not grow his dimensions at all. Even the luggage compartment is the same 460 liters. True, with a folded back of the rear seat, divided in a proportion of 60/40, this volume will increase to 1385 liters.
 
2 open the gate slowly. But the features of using this space deserve separate words. The glass of the rear door is now opened separately. Moreover, it can rise along with the extreme sash of the shelf, thereby opening access not only to the place in which it is customary to carry a tray with eggs from Russian motorists, but also directly to the luggage compartment. As on the sedan of the third series, there is no spare wheel in the car, and an additional compartment appeared under the trunk floor. As an option, its double -sided floor is offered: on the one hand - loops for attaching heavy objects, on the other - a synthetic rug. In the same place, under the floor, there is a waterproof compartment in which you can transport, for example, dirty boots or caught fish.
 
3 caravanserai. Touring has always been positioned as a family car for outdoor activities. Therefore, for the first time in the history of the 3rd series, three children in children's chairs with the ISOFIX attachment system can go here at once. And one more highlight for distant travels. To attach a trailer to the station wagon, now it is not at all necessary to get your hands dirty, setting a towbar. The towing hook is now controlled by the button, and on command, Erects from under the rear bumper.
 
4 compartment car. Nevertheless, BMW designers did not forget the long -term motto of the company and did not turn the stern into the likeness of the van - the Touring silhouette resembles a compartment more than the barn traditional for other auto -films. The roof line softly subsides to the beveled rear. This is a tradition, which in 1971 laid the foundation for Maestro Giovanni Micelotti, which built the first Touring for BMW.
5 fee for the advantage. Sales of a car will begin in the fall, closer to that time, Russian prices for Touring will become known. In Germany, the new 525i station wagon will be more expensive than a sedan with the same engine for 1,500 and only 250 more than Touring 525i in the same body.
For the first time in the history of the 3rd series, the sedan was designed simultaneously with the station wagon, but the car was specially detained so that the second would not spoil the market to the first. Touring starts 325i and 320d models. A little later, they will join cars with gasoline engines of two- and three-liter volumes, as well as a three-liter diesel. All models in standard configuration have a 6-speed manual gearbox, a 6-speed automatic transmission-option.
Each Sportcombi option will be a little more expensive than a similar sedan. The versions are traditional for SAAB: Linear, ARC, Vector and Aero sports modification. Automatic Saab Sentronic boxes have a manual sectral mode. Goral petals are installed as the option.
For cars with an engine of 2.0 tons (210 hp), a 5+2 box option is offered with two intermediate gears that allow you to accelerate faster in Kick-Down mode.

1 Swedish family man. Saab, according to the director of Saab automobile Jean-Her Johnson, is something more than the car is no worse than everyone else. No worse than anyone turned out to be Combi, however, everything that externally distinguishes it from the sedan, where the lamp block, which is covered with hoarfrost, reminds of the stylistic research of the tuning studio specializing in the refinement of the Vazovskaya 9th series, and the floor chrome-plated handle in the trunk in the form Aircraft about the aviation successes of Saab. Pulling the aircraft, you can detect a small repair kit and a large basket with a subwoofer from the Prestige 300 audio system instead of the spree. The trunk operator (419 l), with folded seats, increases to 1273 liters.
    
2 hard aerodynamics. But if in the domestic traditions of tuning the anti -wing element, then the rear spoiler integrated into the roof performs a direct aerodynamic function. Sportcombi the first Saab, in which the lifting forces on both axes are reduced to zero. And the designers promise the lack of serious problems at speeds up to 220 km/h. Even from production achievements: Sportcombi has the hardest 5-door body ever created Saab. Cool stiffness is only 6.6% less than that of the sedan.
 
3 Turbo is a crown. The presentation of the new body is also an occasion for the presentation of a new motor, which, in addition to the 9-3 station wagons in the Aero version, will be installed on the SAAB of other families. 2.8V6 Turbo (power 230 and 250 hp; torque 320 and 350 nm) with an aluminum case, the crown of a ruler of six available gasoline and two diesel units. The receipt of 2.8 V6 Turbo is worthy of enthusiasm, the torque grows immediately from idle speeds. The press release emphasizes the following indicator: from 80 to 120 km/h the car accelerates in 5th gear in 8.5 s.
4 Kill the crab. A claim to the sports of the car is indicated not only in its name. The driver of the passive steering of the rear wheels of Rexs helps the driver of the driver. The system kills a crab in the car, forcing its back to follow in the direction specified by the front wheels, and not with the nose. The concept is as follows: turns without excessive ruins of the steering wheel.
5 Property. 9-3 Sportcombi The most secure Saab model. Its owner, according to the manufacturer’s assurances, has little chance of encountering the theft or theft of movable property. He is guaranteed powerful bolts, cunning locks, codes for a particular car for information entertainment equipment and other achievements of the security business.
Each Sportcombi option will be a little more expensive than a similar sedan. The versions are traditional for SAAB: Linear, ARC, Vector and Aero sports modification. Automatic Saab Sentronic boxes have a manual sectral mode. Goral petals are installed as the option. For a car with a 2.0 T engine (210 hp), a 5+2 box option is offered with two intermediate gears that allow you to accelerate faster in Kick-Down mode.
 
Text Grigory Mitin, Alexander Stavrov, photo BMW and Saab

BMW 525i Touring
 
The engine is gasoline, 6-cylinder, in row
Working volume (cubic cub) 2497
Power (L.S. at rpm) 218 \u200b\u200bat 6500
Moment (Nm at rpm) 250 at 2750-4250
The rear drive
Gearbox 6-speed mechanical
Length/width/height (mm) 4520/1817/1418
Wheel base (mm) 2760
Equipped mass (kg) 1545
Maximum speed (km/h) 243
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 7.2
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 12.4/6.4
The cost of the tested car is not determined by the manufacturer
Saab 9-3 Sportcombi
 
Gasoline engine, V6 with turbocharged
Working volume (cubic cub) 2792
Power (L.S. at rpm) 250 at 5500
Moment (Nm at rpm) 350 at 2000-4500
Front drive
Gearbox 6-speed automatic/mechanical
Length/width/height (mm) 4654/1762/1507
Wheel base (mm) 2675
Equipped mass (kg) 1410-1690
Maximum speed (km/h) 240/245
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 8.3/7.3
Fuel consumption (mixed, l/100 km) 10.6/10.2
The cost of the tested car from $ 42,500

 

Source: "Autopilot"