Auto Special: It outperforms many of its counterparts, by more than just a few centimeters

The new generation BMW - the 5 Series Li - is a real beauty, an executive sedan that is incomparable in its segment, and a milestone in automotive engineering.

Its 310 cm wheelbase is 8 cm longer than that of the previous generation and the arc of the top artfully connects the front, passenger cabin and tail, showing both steadiness and action.

It's also sporty and passionate. With its eight-speed automatic transmission, lightweight body, double-arm front axle, and the aluminum integral rear axle, the BMW 5 Series Li has agility that is beyond the imagination.

The straight six-cylinder petrol engine, paired with the eight-speed gearbox, provides high performance with silky smoothness in shifting.

Its Auto Start-Stop system is in wide use in BMW cars, including the new 5 Series.

This switches the engine off automatically when the vehicle is not moving, for example, at traffic lights, and restarts it automatically. It's very useful in urban areas, especially in congested traffic, for cutting fuel consumption.

The intelligent electronics system has already calculated and checked the charge level of the battery and if other systems - such as air conditioning or rear windscreen heating - require more energy.

BMW has long been associated with the "sheer pleasure of driving", but the 5 Series Li goes far beyond just driving. Its longer wheelbase, bigger space and delicate interior ensure a luxurious, attractive riding experience as well.

The 10.2-inch central display, real leather, and wood trim, the entertainment system, four-zone automatic climate control, fold-down table, electric curtains - every detail inside the car embodies the thought and hard work of the designers.

A Chinese-designer who works in Munich, carefully adjusts the size of the seat, the thickness of the cushion, and the angle of the backrest to Chinese customers' preferred setting.

The 5 Series Li features advanced safety technologies as well. BMW Night Vision makes driving in the dark a safer experience and an infrared camera, positioned in the grille, can detect objects up to 300 meters ahead of the vehicle. In potentially dangerous situations, an acoustic signal and visual warning sign immediately alert the driver so he or she can react quickly.

Because it usually takes some time to take one's eyes off the road and read the speedometer, the BMW Head-Up Display projects the current speed, lane guide, and information of other systems onto the windscreen, in full view of the driver, to make the driving easier.

The automatic parking system in the car senses and calculates the size of the parking space and parks automatically; the driver need only control the speed of the car via the accelerator and brake pedal.

In short, today's BMW 5 Series Li, with its larger size, advanced technology, powerful performance, luxurious equipment, and perfect design, can outperform many of its counterparts, by more than just a few centimeters.