The new BMW 5 Series breaks the mold! (VIDEO)

The large German sedan, now available in electric form, makes an aggressive choice for its 5th generation marketed in October 2023.

They erase everything and start over. Outside as inside. But what about the relevance of trying to succeed with a single model: 100% electric, hybrid, petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid, the new 5 Series aims to appeal to everyone. Beware the risk of ultimately pleasing no one!

Visually first, the result is surprising as it is highly divisive. We love it or hate it, but it’s impossible to remain indifferent. In length, the German grows by 97 mm to reach 5.06 meters. The same in width (+32 mm to 1.9 meters) and height (+36 mm to 1.515 meters). Not exactly a ballerina. Conversely, the wheelbase only benefits from an additional 20 mm, reaching 2.995 meters. Too bad for the interior space. As for the style, we let you be the judge.

Inside, no surprises, it feels like a contemporary BMW with precise adjustments and a very large multimedia screen that dominates the entire dashboard. However, a new feature appears: the interior can now be chosen 100% vegan. Goodbye leather for the seats, dashboard, steering wheel, and door panels.

The BMW i5 M60 xDrive as the flagship model

The BMW i5, a 100% electric model, will initially feature two powertrains. First, the BMW i5 M60 xDrive with 601 hp (442 kW) and specific design features. The two motors are integrated into the front and rear axles to form an all-electric all-wheel drive. The torque generated by the system can reach 820 Nm when the M Sport Boost or M Launch Control functions are activated. This allows the BMW i5 M60 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 230 km/h, electronically limited.

The BMW i5 eDrive40 is the second 100% electric version available at launch. Its electric motor drives the rear wheels and delivers a maximum power of 340 hp (250 kW) and a maximum torque of 430 Nm with the Sport Boost or Launch Control functions. The BMW i5 eDrive40 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds and has a top speed of 193 km/h.

The high-voltage battery is housed in the underbody and has a net capacity of 81.2 kWh. In addition to efficient electric motors, the latest version of adaptive energy recovery allows for greater absorption of kinetic energy during deceleration. The respective WLTP ranges are 516 kilometers for the BMW i5 M60 xDrive and 582 kilometers for the BMW i5 eDrive40. This new BMW Series 5 also features the recent MAX RANGE function, which can increase range by up to 25% by limiting power and speed, and disabling comfort functions.

Innovative BMW Charging eCharging solutions.

The BMW i5’s charging unit (CCU) allows AC charging at up to 11 kW as standard, and up to 22 kW as an option. The high-voltage battery can be charged DC with a power of up to 205 kW. For example, charging from 10% to 80% takes about 30 minutes.

The new BMW i5s are also the first BMW vehicles to feature Plug & Charge. This function allows the vehicle to automatically authenticate at compatible public charging stations without using an app or charging card. A unique feature is the multi-contract option, which enables customers to store up to five individual electricity contracts compatible with Plug & Charge directly in the vehicle, from different providers.

New petrol and diesel engines

Initially in France, four-cylinder models will be launched, with the BMW 520i with 208 hp and the BMW 520d and BMW 520d xDrive each with 197 hp. The model range will be expanded in spring 2024 with two plug-in hybrid variants. A new six-cylinder inline diesel engine will also be available for the BMW Series 5 Sedan from 2024. Another all-wheel-drive electric version of the BMW i5 will also follow during 2024.

The BMW Series 5 will be launched in France with a petrol engine, a diesel engine, and two electric versions, with prices listed below:

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