A few years ago, there was a big publicity sign in Montreal promoting a hot new singer. It read: "Look me in the eyes!" That's because her well-endowed body was garnering most of the attention. Obviously, it sparked a whole lot of controversy.

Well, the 2008 BMW 535xi might just be as sexy and eye-catching, not to mention controversial. Remember, the 5-Series raised many eyebrows upon its introduction. The "Flame surface" design language, originally developed by Chris Bangle's team and now applied to every model in the lineup, turned out to be quite polarizing: either you love it or hate it. As far as I'm concerned, I like it very much. The design is understated, classy, stylish and a bit provocative, including a few tweaks for 2008.

The 2008 BMW 535xi might just be as sexy and eye-catching, not to mention controversial.

The interior goes in the same direction, with clean lines that combine to create a beautiful environment. The materials were carefully selected and matched together, making for a very cozy atmosphere. Living up to the standards that have made the Bavarian automaker famous is flawless fit and finish, both inside and out.

Mandatory reading
With the goal of simplifying things for the driver and passengers, BMW incorporated a centralized system for the majority of controls, like navigation, audio and climate settings. It's all there. This iDrive interface is quite effective; however, you have to take some time to fully understand how it works and take advantage of all the possibilities. I'm telling you, this can be awfully long! The system also allows optimum ergonomics, which is really a good thing.

The 535xi is comprehensively equipped -- maybe too equipped. But that's the sort of problems I happily learned to live with! Both the stereo and HVAC system work like a charm... once you understand how to use them. I should point out that the sound quality is significantly above the average.

Both the stereo and HVAC system work like a charm.