BBC_Top_Gear_South_Africa_June_2017

You’ll also block less
traffic compared to a
7 Series
If you’re going to travel a vast distance in South
Africa,attemptinganambitious1000kmperday,you’ll
crossatleastthreemountainranges,whichmeansteep
descentsandtighteningradius,off-cambercorners.
ChaptersoftheNürburgring,ifyouwish,arewaitingto
bepagedallacrossthedrivingatlasthatisMzansi.
Atspeed,plungingalongthestreaksoftarcutintoa
rock face of the Malutis or Magaliesberg, SUVs are like
goalkeeperstryingtodribble:accidentallycapable,but
ungainly,alwaysnearlytrippingoverthatfrontfoot,with
an overburdened front-axle defaulting to understeer. 5
Series is Messi and X5 is Buffon. The steering isn’t
flawlesslycommunicative,sacrificingfeelforthe
autonomousfunctionality,butitisunwittinglyquickand
asallgreatBMWdriver’scars(discountingSUVs),it
feelsathirdlighterandquartershorterthanitreallyis.
Ifyoudislikedomesticflying.Andlovedriving.5
Seriesisstillthemachinethatmakesitapleasure.
Quintessentially BMW, it’s a heroically compelling
argument against the luxury SUV.
The‘Werkehasalwayskeptfaithwithin-linesixes
–evenwhenitsGermanrivalsbenttherules.Straight
sixesarethemostheraldedofBMWenginesanddespite
its long-stroke internal architecture, 540’s TwinScroll
boosted 3-litre has all the eagerness of a classic oversquare
BMW six.
Thisisaborderline5second0-100kphluxurycar,one
that will cruise at autobahn speeds all day, surging past
convoysofslowertrafficwithdisdainfulease.
Experience 250kW straining your abs, pressing your
shoulder blades deeper into the finest Bavarian leather,
beforeyourevelintheagilityofaproperBMW,thanksto
540’s sensible sub-1.5m roofline, and subsequent sedan
centre of gravity.
It’s true, you don’t need
an SUV to leave the city
JUNE 2017
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