Test drive - BMW 530i
Now and then there is a road test that stands out from all others, and this is one.
Driving the BMW 530i was exciting, safe and superb.
The car looks sporty, with its 'eyelids' over the headlamps, five-spoke alloy wheels and an accentuated rear deck. Inside, it is all hi-tech and grey leather, with the stern lines softened by curves and a swooping dashboard. The dashboard instruments are clear and sporty.
The steering wheel has audio controls and cruise control, but its leather is so tightly wrapped it looks and feels like vinyl.
The metallic gear-shift offers three driving styles. The first is six-speed automatic. The second is DS (DriveSport), in which the engine management makes things exciting by waiting longer to shift and then accelerating more. I also sensed more active braking.
Third is Steptronic 'manual' shifting, which means a tweak of the stick shifts you up or down. Usually this can be exciting, but in Hong Kong conditions I ended up using it only for engine braking down long hills - and then left it alone entirely.
DS was more interesting, allowing some overtaking so spectacular I could hardly believe it.
With DS and 231 horsepower, you can decide what to do and then magically do it. You can almost fly.
The DS came into its own heading down Clear Water Bay Road as I took the tight curves all the way to the headland. On the way back we swung down the graceful road to Clear Water Bay Golf and Country Club, taking the curves smoothly.
Heading back from the club I saw the first uphill quarter-mile empty of traffic, put pedal to metal and turned the car loose.
You can feel the click under the accelerator as the auto kickdown comes into play.
There was a burst of power reminiscent of the Ferrari Cambiocorsa as the 530 hurtled up that hill and adrenaline spurted into my bloodstream.
For the next 10 curves we seemed to be floating.
Back at the Silverstrand roundabout luck placed a dark-blue Carrera S in front of us, and I wanted to follow his style up the hill. Oddly, we did better.
The Porsche shot up the hill and the BMW followed closely. About halfway up, the Carrera driver realised he was not leaving us behind.
He accelerated, but at the top of the hill we were still on his tail.
How could a BMW keep up with a Porsche? Simple.
He was following the curves, while we were straightening them.
Minutes later, after turning many heads in Sai Kung town, we were doing the convoluted handling test at Pak Tam Chung.
I found parking excellent, while the turning circle was truly amazing for car with a straight six engine under the bonnet.
Engine: six-cylinder 2,971cc
Output: 231BHP @ 5,900 rpm
Performance: 0-100km in 6.9 seconds, 250km/h top speed
Economy: estimated 8.4 litres per 100km highway
Price: $648,000
