Night hawk - BMW 525i 2007

The 5 series sedan is re-launched for 2007 with subtle changes









by Tushal Bhadang

BMW has for years stood as a beacon of performance, engineering and luxury with ideals that protect the environment. We received the 525i sedan for test and with bated breath, we pushed the starter button only to feel an expected growl turn into a muted but confident purr. Had the Beemer been tamed? Not really, it now looks more aggressive, with the headlights resembling a hawk’s eyes, the tell tale lights in orange extend over the front wheel arch. Xenon headlights are not only attractive but are also built to ensure maximum spread on the road ahead. Signature kidney shaped grille dominates front look and rear taillight cluster is powered by multiple LEDs that glow according to brake force applied. Soft close doors are also a new feature.

Our test car came equipped with an M Sports aerodynamic body kit, which includes a low front air dam and a rear apron diffuser with added rear boot lid spoiler lip and extended muscular side skirts. Also special are the 19” double spoke alloy rims with mixed tyres (245/35R19 front, 275/30R19 rear with low profile run-flat tyres) and “M” badging. The roofline is low and sums up the features with a “shark fin” antenna. This avatar of the 5-series looks exquisite … especially at night.

What makes the 525i tick is the now up-rated power pack that lurks under the bonnet. A 2.5 litre inline six pot belts out 218 hp@6500 RPM with 250 Nm of torque @2750 RPM which is steady and flat throughout the rev range. She weighs a tad over 1.5 tons and this makes the engine feel slightly underpowered. Mated to a now standard electro-mechanical 6-speed sports steptronic auto tranny (phew!), she revs freely onto the red line. In standard mode the ‘box feels lazy and disinterested, in DS (sports mode) it revs hard but is the most fun to drive in manual shift mode, its weakest point being its low down power surge. She does have her fleeting moments though, as she reaches the magical 100 kph mark in 7.5 seconds and gets there in style. Cross 4000 RPM and the motor comes into its own, surging and subsiding with uncannily smooth, seamless gearshifts. In the upper reaches beyond 6000 RPM there is a fierce and distinctive BMW inline engine induction howl. Lovely!

Steering response is impeccable; there are very few cars which boast of turn-in precision when chucking it mercilessly into sharp corners as the tyres plead for lateral grip. Under-steer for the Beemer was unexpected, especially with fatter rear tyres and being rear wheel drive, but lack of sports suspension might be at fault. The test car also missed the optional “Active Steering” which is known to improve cornering precision and stiffer movement required for high speed driving. At speeds over 100 kph, the steering felt light despite the heavy motor upfront. Placing the gearbox further back and modifying the chassis for better weight distribution has brought about balance in her form.

BMW’s iDrive computer system is often compared to its German competitors and despite all our efforts to get used to, it just didn’t cut the cake. Okay, she doesn’t have a dash or centre console resembling a mini Hi-fi system, but sometimes just pushing one button is so much easier than turning a knob many times over to do the same thing. The dual zone climate control system works quickly and efficiently, users can also programme the zones which need more cooling. The interiors are dominated by a black metallic painted panel trim which runs through the Dakota (natural brown) leather interior. Front driver seat is fully powered with two memory settings. Additionally the rear glass area is equipped with blinds. Don’t be surprised if you see an executive choosing the rear seat over driving it himself, they’re extremely comfortable. The steering wheel has controls for the 6-disc changer audio system (with iPod jack in the glove box), button for voice-activated features and Bluetooth phone controls. Anti-glare mirrors make night driving a whole lot easier.

The list of acronyms available as standard for safety is longer than ever before, including: ABS, CBC, ASC, DSC, DTC and DBS. She has 4-stars in the EuroNCAP safety ratings and has eight airbags which deploy only in the zones that require it in case of an emergency. An army of parking sensors help in slotting it perfectly between the dotted lines.

Last word
Rating the 525i has been one of our most challenging tasks. It associates itself with being connected with the driver to provide an exhilarating motoring experience. Yet it lacks features that should be standard in its class. Fuel efficiency on the 525i has also been bumped up so it sips even lesser now. The bigger wheel size hasn’t helped the car too much apart from gaining visual appeal. Adaptive headlights, infrared night vision, a head-up display, active cruise control, active steering etc are all optional extras. Overall she is neither anaemic, nor aggro, she’s just about right.

Rating 4 stars

Car supplied by Euro Motors, Kingdom of Bahrain.


5 stars: Dream wheels
4 stars: Recommended
3 stars: On the ball
2 stars: Just transport
1 star : Very ordinary

Achtung baby! - VW Golf GTI 2007

The fifth generation Golf GTI is all things to all men

By Tushal Bhadang

Volkswagen (VW) launched the first Mark I Golf GTI way back in 1974 as a 2-door hatch and was an instant hit because it offered more value for money and went faster than most other sports cars of that time. Over the years it became bigger, bulkier and slower. But the new Mark V GTI is in a league of its own. VW have paid attention to details, even today, the honeycomb front radiator grille on the car has a subtle line of red lip gloss making it beautiful enough to be recognised. The well rounded corners and flared wheel arches are anything but over aggressive. Our test car was 4-door Lemon yellow coloured chick magnet.

All the important sporting details are there but so subtly that it doesn’t attract undue attention. The brake callipers for instance are sporty red in colour, bi-xenon headlamps and low mounted fog lamps light up the road adequately (you can even program them to stay on for longer after you lock the car). You can take the GTI to a hotel and expect the concierge to open the door for you.

The true spirit of the GTI has returned with double the power compared to the first version. It develops 200 bhp from a 2 litre, 4 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. There is usable power throughout the rev range and the torque at 280 Nm @ 1800-5000 RPM is a shot in the arm that keeps you bolted to your seat as it accelerates to 100 kph in 6.9 seconds! Usually car equipped with turbochargers have turbo lag (within a turbocharger's operating range, lag is the delay between the instant a car's accelerator is depressed and the time the turbocharged engine develops a large fraction of the power boost). The GTI has little to none of it from speeds as low as 50 kph in 6^th gear it just charges ahead.

Mated to 6-speed DSG (double clutch gear) gearbox from Audi the transmission is smooth as silk. And it also has tip-tronic shift with sport mode and F1 style paddle shift on the steering wheel. The GTI has the puppy dog enthusiasm to take the corners tighter and faster. It happily swings its tail out if pushed harder despite being a front wheel drive car. Unlike SUV’s it won’t drink up a litre of fuel as you park the car. Its fuel efficiency and performance are both award winning. It rides low but weighs only 1380 kilograms.

Sports cars usually have a stiffer suspension, it aids handling. The GTI’s all independent suspension package; McPherson front axle with anti-roll bars with wide track and 4-link rear axle assures dynamic performance especially on sharp bends. The ride is firm but comfortable. Our test car even came with a tyre pressure monitoring system.

The interiors are German dull black with red and blue backlit dials. The model we tested had a sunroof, heated leather seats (with GTI embossing), 6-disc CD changer, dual-zone climate control (with rear cooling vents), a multi function trip computer with controls on the steering wheel (contoured and clad in perforated leather) and to top it off — cruise control. The door panels, knobs and switches are good to touch and look like they’ll last a lifetime. It has a cooled glove box, rear seat armrest and enough leg-room in the rear for those less than six feet.

The GTI rides on wide 225/40R18 tyres with Detroit 5-spoke alloy wheels, disc brakes all around provide excellent stopping power and safety aids like ESP, ABS, EBD are highly effective. Additionally, there are ten airbags in the car and it has been awarded a 5-star EuroNCAP safety rating.

Last word
The Golf GTI may be a small car; its boot is big enough for your dog to play around in, with the seats down it large enough to move your desk. It’s a safe car; something even women will enjoy driving. The GTI does everything you could possibly want from a car. You can take your children to school comfortably, practically, safely and then on the way to work, you can give it some stick and go bonkers! The engine has a lovely rasp as the revs climb, it redlines at the blink of an eye and we enjoyed the orchestra. In its 2-door version, it becomes better suited to a newly wed couple. We’re actually pressing hard to find faults with this car; Guess the only thing we can complain about is the lack of cup holders. Buying this car over SUVs would do the world some good.

Rating 5/5.

Car supplied by Behbehani Brothers, Kingdom of Bahrain.