BMW 5-series sighted in SA!
2003-02-21 08:21
Next 5-series spied in Oudtshoorn
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On Tuesday Wheels24 reader Steven Shenker e-mailed us that he saw an undisguised 2004 BMW 5-series in Cape Town. According to him he was cycling on the scenic Table Mountain road when he noticed a blockade.
"At the end of the road I noticed a helicopter with a camera attached, parked next to a silver 735i.
"I went past it wondering what was up, when I realised that the front was a bit small for a 7 series, and realised that this was actually the new 5 series! I was confused because the two looked almost identical from the back," he wrote us.
Steven then spotted a 535i badge on the car which confirmed his suspicions. The car also had an EU number plate.
On Wednesday another Wheels24 reader, Pieter Oosthuizen from Pretoria, wrote us that he saw two disguised 2004 BMW 5-series. The one was a sedan and the other an estate.
Both cars were disguised with black tape and were left hand drive. All badges were removed, but the kidney shaped grille was unmistakable BMW.
And yesterday at last we received exclusive spy photos of the next 5-series. Jaco Kirsten, the motoring editor of Die Burger (our Afrikaans sister newspaper), e-mailed us spy photos of the BMW.
One of Jaco's readers spotted the 5-series in the Klein Karoo town of Oudtshoorn. The car was also a bit disguised with black tape.
A local representative of BMW also confirmed to Wheels24 that the 2004 5-series will go on sale in South African in November. The new BMW 5-series will probably debut in three weeks time at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.
It is expected that the new 5-series' engine range will feature a 284kW twin-turbo 3-litre inline six-cylinder power train.
It's performance will be equally impressive - top speed will be limited to 250km/h and it will go from 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds.
The line-up will also include an M5 version with a V10 power train. This 5.5-litre muscle engine will produce 410kW. It will sprint from 0-100km/h in less then 5 seconds.
Gizmos like a seven-seed SMG gearbox with paddle controls will also feature in the 2004 M5, but we suspect that this car will only debut a few month after the rest of the models.
Wheels24 would like to thank all our readers that e-mailed and supplied us with information about the 2004 5-series. It is much appreciated! A special thanks also to Jaco Kirsten form Die Burger who sent us the exclusive spy photos. Wheels24 readers are welcome to mail us their spy photos - we are still on the look out for the undisguised 5-series, which is perhaps still in Cape Town!
On Monday Wheels24 will publish exclusive spy photos of another future Beemer that was spotted in South Africa. Watch this space!
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