MOTOR RIVALS

The eagerly-awaited Volvo V90 was revealed today in Stockholm, Sweden. The stylish and versatile V90 is the latest in the luxury car maker’s top-of-the-line 90 series sitting alongside the award winning XC90 SUV and the recently-launched S90 luxury sedan.

The new V90 is the third car unveiled in Volvo’s top-of-the-line 90 series, all of which are built on the company’s specially-designed and fully modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which has opened up a range of new opportunities in terms of how Volvos can be designed, built and equipped.

The new V90 delivers cutting-edge Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive technology, the most advanced standard safety package on the market, with large animal detection and run-off road mitigation, and class-leading connectivity including smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay.

“We have a very strong offer in the V90. The T8 Twin Engine gas plug-in hybrid will deliver around 400 hp and a pure electric range of around 50 km,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Volvo Cars.

Athletic ability, efficiency, compulsive allure, and innovations designed to enhance the driving experience: the BMW 5 Series has always contained the signature ingredients of a best-selling BMW model. Consistently rising sales figures have fortified its position as a global leader in its class. Now, for the 2014 model year, another new chapter in this success story is poised to begin. Precise modifications to the design, the addition of a new inline-6 BMW Advanced Diesel engine for the Sedan, and even more of available equipment all raise the appeal of the BMW 5 Series family a notch higher.

The introduction of the 2014 BMW 5 Series family also heralds an expansion of its engine range. The BMW 535d has been added as BMW’s latest diesel variant in North America. Its inline-6 BMW Advanced Diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology makes 255 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 413 lb-ft of torque from 1,500 – 3,000 rpm (preliminary figures). Simultaneously, the new BMW 535d Sedan is expected to show substantial fuel efficiency gains over its gasoline-fueled counterpart. US EPA figures will be available closer to the on-sale date. BMW’s xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system is also available on the new 535d Sedan.

The top-of-the-line engine of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan now features an updated V-8 with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and BMW’s Valvetronic throttle-less intake technology, developing a monstrous 445 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque.

The galaxy of innovations on the options list borne by BMW ConnectedDrive technology allows the 2014 BMW 5 Series family to underline its leadership in the areas of connectivity, infotainment, convenience, and safety. For example, the function of the optional Comfort Access system, which allows the tailgate or trunk to be opened hands-free, has been extended to include a closing mechanism, which means that a movement of the foot under the rear apron can now be used to prompt the tailgate to close as well as open.