Now into its third year of radical product relaunches, BMW once again wins a place among our five Auto Style Award winners with the redesigned 5 Series. Following 2002's state of the art 7 Series sedan and last year's Z4 roadster, the all-new 5 Series is a bold and confident progression of the Bavarian Motor Works' design evolution.

The 5 Series flexes long, angular muscles, while head and tail lamps evoke an imposing intent. The interior is an exercise in futuristic minimalism, thanks to the iDrive System that combines several functions into a single interface, and to a generous use of creased edges in place of curved lines. Cabin materials are richer and fresher – more welcoming, in a fighter jet sort of way.

BMW Group head of design Chris Bangle became a household name in the auto industry when the flagship 7 Series relaunched and the Z4 replaced the hugely popular Z3. Controversy swirled around both Bimmers as traditionalists wept over the edgy new design direction. At last count, an online petition to have Bangle fired totaled 9,650 signatures – not quite the reaction BMW was hoping for.

Be that as it may, we at eCityofStyle.com absolutely love BMW's new direction. We applaud their bravery, creating dynamic angles and uniquely contrasting lines that express a consistent brand design. Some of the cuts and creases in the sheetmetal are puzzling at first, but like a complex Mandelbrot fractal, the genius behind their conception is gradually revealed. BMW took an enormous risk with such a profound change in design philosophy, but we feel they have a success of historical proportions in the making, as evidenced by their third consecutive Auto Style Award!

Photography by Ayman Shairzay