New BMW 5 Series sedan breaks cover

THE latest BMW 5 Series sedan has surfaced in Europe with a range of powertrains including pure electric, PHEV, 48-volt mild hybrid petrol and 48-volt mild hybrid diesel in both rear and all-wheel drive configurations.

Due for a European introduction in October, the model will launch here in Q4 this year with three variants comprising two fully electric BEVs and one turbocharged petrol mild hybrid. Others may potentially arrive in early 2024 but are not locked in at this stage.

BMW Australia has seven 5 Series variants available from the current generation model with the 520i kick off at $107,700 plus on-road costs. Pricing on the new generation eight 5-er this far out from launch is unavailable.

A BMW Australia told GoAuto there will initially be two BEV versions of the new gen 5-er starting with the i5 X40 eDrive single motor rear wheel drive and the top of the range i5 M60 xDrive dual motor all-wheel drive joined by a 520i 2.0-litre petrol mild hybrid rear wheel drive model.

The new 5-er has some serious competition from both Mercedes-Benz E-Class and EQE models and Audi A6 to say nothing of similar size and spec’ offerings from Genesis and Jaguar.

The 5 Series has carved out a particular niche among mid-level executives around the world with the boss in a 7 Series and the lower level execs in a 3 Series.

The new model is spruiked by BMW as being “more dynamic than ever, featuring a wealth of digital innovations and, for the first time, all-electric drive.”

It comes out of BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Germany, where the electric motors and high-voltage batteries for the i5 are also manufactured.

Instantly recognisable as a 5 Series, the generation eight model has a “clear and reduced” design language that BMW says emphasises the new model’s sporty elegance and presence.

Dimensionally a bigger car than the previous 5 Series, the new model is 97mm longer at 5060mm, 32mm wider at 1900mm and 36mm higher at 1515mm riding on a longer 2995mm wheelbase, an increase of 20mm.

The car’s face is a new interpretation of the twin headlights and BMW kidney grille with LED elements arranged almost vertically that serve as turn indicators and daytime driving lights. The protruding kidney grille features a wide surround that can be optioned up with an Iconic Glow contour lighting.

The profile exhibits a high shoulder line with “powerfully designed” surfaces and two precisely traced character lines that shape the vehicle’s body.

The exterior is highlighted with black side skirts, flush-mounted door openers and an embossed number 5 at the base of the C-pillar.

The fully vegan interior is designed to function as a mobile office providing high levels of comfort and connectivity for those on the move. BMW said it paid special attention to long distance comfort as the 5 Series is a popular continental travel alternative to aircraft.

To that end, the interior provides “space, modern functionality, a high level of acoustic comfort as well as high-quality, precisely processed materials, fine workmanship and advanced digital services”.

For the driver, the cockpit has a significantly fewer buttons and controls compared to the predecessor model achieved by digitalising functions.

The entry level 520i utilises a 2.0-litre petrol twin scroll turbocharged engine with a 48-volt crankshaft generator assisting to punch power through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels.

Maximum combined outputs are 153kW/330Nm with a 0-100km/h sprint in a claimed 7.5 seconds. Claimed best fuel consumption figure is 5.7 litres per 100km on regular 91 RON petrol.

The i5 eDrive 40 is a pure electric model with a single synchronous electric motor driving the rear axle that produces a maximum of 250kW/430Nm for a 0-100km/h sprint in 6.0 seconds. Claimed combined electricity use 18.9-15.9kWh/100km with a claimed range of 497-582km WLTP.

Stepping up to the range topping i5 M60 xDrive ushers in a whole other performance experience thanks to its all-wheel drive and dual motor drivetrain rated at a maximum combined 442kW/820Nm which, despite the car’s nearly 2500kg kerb weight, allows it to clock a 0-100km/h sprint in a rapid 3.8 seconds (claimed).

Combined power consumption according to WLTP is 20.6-18.2 kWh/100km giving a potential best range of 455-516km.

The electric motors in new i5 Series use enhanced fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology complete with Sport Boost and Launch Control functions. The space-saving high-voltage battery is located in the underbody and provides a usable energy content of 81.2kWh.

In addition to the electric motors, the latest version of adaptive recuperation and an “intelligent combination” of heat pump technology for heating and cooling the interior, drive and high-voltage battery contribute to the long range.

The Combined Charging Unit (CCU) of the BMW i5 enables AC charging with an output of up to 11kW as standard and up to 22kW as an option. The high-voltage battery can be charged with direct current with a power of up to 205kW. The battery charge level in the BMW i5 can be raised from 10 to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes.

A Connected Home Charging system is offered for the fully electric BMW i5 as well as for the plug-in hybrid models if as expected, they make it Down Under.