- The new car goes on sale in October from €69,850.
- Three trim levels for Ireland – M Sport, M Sport Pro and the i5 M60 xDrive.
- i5 models feature 81.2 kWh battery with range up to 582km.
The eight-generation of BMW 5 Series has been revealed, and for the first time, there is an all-electric version, the i5. The new car is bigger than its predecessor, growing in length by 97mm, in width by 32mm and in height by 36mm. It also has a longer wheelbase, which has grown by 20mm. It comes as standard with Veganza upholstery (BMWs Vegan leather), and the Interaction bar first seen in the BMW 7 Series is now incorporated in the new BMW 5 Series.
Thankfully, BMW has played it reasonably safe with the styling of the new 5 Series, and the kidney-shaped grille isn’t as huge as in some other models. BMW would need to be cautious with a model as important as the 5 Series, and thankfully, they have done just that.
The big news is the arrival of an all-electric version of the BMW 5 Series. The i5 will come with two model variants: the i5 M60 xDrive performance model and below this the i5 eDrive40. The i5 eDrive 40 is rear-driven thanks to an electric motor located directly in the rear axle and generates 340hp and 400Nm of torque or 430 Nm with the Sport Boost or Launch Control function. 0-100km/h takes just six seconds, and max speed is limited to 193 km/h. The range is estimated as between 477-582 km thanks to an 81.2 kWh battery.
The i50 M50 xDrive is the top-spec model and boasts up to 601hp (with M Sport Boost or M Launch Control) electric drive. This has two electric motors, one on each axle and a total of up to 820Nm of torque. This car can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds, with the max speed limited to 230 km/h. The range of this model is estimated to be between 455-516km.
A new MAX RANGE mode was designed for situations where a planned charging stop is no longer possible. The maximum speed is limited to 90km/h; the air conditioning is deactivated; rear window heating is reduced; steering wheel and seat heating and ventilation are deactivated. The range gained in this way is shown on the Control Display, the speed and power scales are adjusted on the Information Display and the additional range is taken into account in the range forecast.
Combined Charging Unit and intelligent charging software minimise charging time.
The Combined Charging Unit (CCU) of the BMW i5 enables AC charging up to 11kW as standard and optionally up to 22kW (standard on the i5 M60 xDrive). The battery can be charged with DC up to 205kW. This raises the charge level from 10 to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes. In addition, the range can be increased by up to 156kms in 10 minutes at a DC fast-charging station when starting with a charge level of 10 per cent.
What about petrol engines?
There will still be a 520i saloon as the entry point to the 5 Series range. This is a mild hybrid, so it uses a 48-volt battery located under the luggage compartment. It is charged by means of recuperation during overrun and braking. In addition to the electric motor, the 48-volt battery also supplies the vehicle’s 12-volt electrical system via a voltage converter. In the new BMW 520i Saloon, this engine produces 190hp and 310 Nm of torque, increased to 208hp and 330Nm with the support of the 48-volt mild hybrid technology – 24hp and 40Nm more than its predecessor. The new BMW 520i Saloon takes 7.5 seconds to accelerate from zero to 100km/h.
