BMW 5 - Manual (Page 50)

BMW
Media
Information
11/2009
Page 50
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Mean body stiffness up 55 per cent.
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Appropriate use of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel;
doors, engine lid and spring supports made of aluminium.
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Active engine lid for optimum pedestrian safety.
The exterior design of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan offers a perfect balance
of aesthetic looks and sporting dynamics. The body structure, in turn, sets
new standards in terms of solidity and intelligent lightweight construction,
use of the most appropriate materials serving to meet the greatest demands
in passive safety and at the same time optimise the weight of the car in the
interest of enhanced efficiency and driving dynamics.
A wide range of safety components interacting precisely with one another in
a carefully coordinated overall concept guarantees excellent occupant safety
whenever a collision is unavoidable.
The safety concept of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan also incorporates
fundamental structural and innovative technologies for optimising pedestrian
safety on the road, thus adding reliable protection in all conceivable crash
situations to the Sheer Driving Pleasure so characteristic of a BMW. Hence,
the new BMW 5 Series naturally meets all requirements for achieving
excellent results in all crash tests the world over.
The new BMW 5 Series Sedan comes with an extremely stiff passenger
cell, intelligent use of high-strength multi-phase steel and hot-moulded
ultra-high-strength steel giving the safety passenger cell maximum stiffness
on relatively low weight. Compared with the former model, mean stiffness
of the body structure is up by approximately 55 per cent in the interest of
optimum passive safety and as the foundation for excellent driving dynamics.
The lightweight quality rating, that is torsional stiffness as a function of
the car’s footprint and overall weight, is also absolutely outstanding.
Aluminium doors reducing the weight of the car by 23 kg or 51 lb.
Apart from the engine lid, the front side panels and the front spring supports
on the body, the doors of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan are also made of
aluminium. Indeed, the use of aluminium doors alone instead of conventional
7. Body and Safety:
Supreme Strength
is the Benchmark, Intelligent
Lightweight Construction
is the Principle.