Wait no more: BMW details dramatic new 5 Series and electric i5

Billed as the most technologically advanced and comfortable generation since the original E12 debuted in 1972, BMW has revealed the all-new eighth generation 5 Series and its electric equivalent, the equally new i5.

Final farewell

Debuting just over a month after its arch rival, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the internally named G60 5 Series not only becomes the latest to originate from Munich’s Head of Design Domagoj Dukec, but also the least controversial from a styling directive.

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Supposed to be the most elegant 5 Series ever created, the G60 serves as a likely farewell for BMW’s long serving CLAR platform that will make way for the largely electric optimised Neue Klasse in 2025.

Until then, the reworked platform provides the foundation for what is also likely to be the final combustion engine 5 Series BMW will make as it moves towards an all-electric future by 2030.

Polarising it is not

Styled to resemble the 1 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupe instead of the 3 Series and the new 7 Series, the apparent conservative buyer clientele of the 5 Series played a role in the final design as it lacks not only the oversized kidney grilles, but also the split headlight design also used on the updated X7.

It’s grille seemingly modelled on that of the Skoda Enyaq, the same being true of its new alloy wheel design, the 5 Series boasts a sloping bonnet, a gloss black finish around the grille on M Sport and M Sport Pro models, plus the option of the Iconic Glow illuminated grille surround that premiered on the 7 Series.

In a first though, a sloping coupe-like roofline has been applied with a comparatively short bootlid that hides a luggage storage hold of 520-litres with the rear seats in position.

Another first are the thin LED taillights reminiscent of the design Toyota used on the thirteenth generation Crown, flush door handles, number 5 embossed on the C-pillar, and the option of having the outer edges of the rear bumper finished in gloss black on the M Sport, or on lesser models, with satin silver detailing or in body colour.

As for wheel sizes, 18-inch light alloys are standard with up to 21-inches, another 5 Series first, available on the M Sport.

Dimensions and chassis

Measuring 5 060 mm in overall length, standing 1 515 mm and riding on a 2 995 mm wheelbase, the G60’s width has been increased by 32 mm to 1 900 mm over the outgoing G30, with the same applying to the former pair that increase by 97 mm and 36 mm respectively.

At just under three metres, the G60 also boasts a 20 mm longer wheelbase than before, which BMW claims has translated into a more spacious cabin from a headroom and legroom perspective.

Unsurprisingly, the revisions to the CLAR platform have not been small as apart from accommodating the electric hardware used by the i5, the G60’s front and rear tracks have been widened to obtain the perfect 50/50 weight distribution, and the entire chassis reworked.

While M Sport models are again fitted with the M Sport suspension, M Sport brakes and Adaptive M suspension with electronic shock absorbers in the case of the i5 M60, the rear-wheel Integral Steering system becomes available for the first, along with new electric power steering and revised Active Roll Stabilisation with Active Roll Comfort.

Thoroughly new inside

If not bigger than the exterior, the G60’s interior has been radically redesigned to incorporate elements from the 7 Series such as the same steering wheel and the Interaction Bar, as well as debuting BMW’s latest Curved Display.

Hiding behind the wheel, the instrument cluster again measures 12.3-inches, but has been updated with cleaner and more modern readouts.

For its part, the iDrive infotainment system, still accessed via the rotary dial or the screen itself, continues to measure 14.9-inches, but premieres Munich’s new 8.5 Operating System that, amongst others, allows for online games to be played while the car isn’t moving.

The system is again supportive of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but this time in a wireless capacity, aided by standard over-the-air updates and first time inclusion of 5G. Optional items are the Augmented Reality camera within the cluster and a new Head-Up Display.

Besides the usual assortment of colours, materials and veneers, a vegan friendly upholstery option has been made available on not only the seats, but also the steering wheel, doors and dashboard.

On the safety front, BMW has either updated existing features, or new introduced new tech so as to have the 5 Series come resplendent with Park Assistant Plus, standard Reverse Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, High Assistant that allows for hands-off driving where permitted at speeds up to 130 km/h, and Lane Control Assist.

Standard mild-hybrid ICE…

As previously reported, the 5 Series has had its combustion engine count reduced to two petrol units and one turbodiesel for now, all standard with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance and connected to a now toggle switch operated ZF-sourced eight-speed Steptronic gearbox that becomes standard across all models.

Staring the range off is the 520i, whose 2.0-litre turbo-petrol develops 140kW/310Nm, plus an additional 13kW/200Nm for short spells as per the mild-hybrid system. As standard, the smallest 5 Series will get from 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 230 km/h.

Next up is the 520d that makes 145kW/400Nm, but only eight kilowatts and 25 Nm more with the hybrid system factored in. The claimed top speed is 233 km/h with 0-100 km/h taking 7.3 seconds.

As an option, the 520d can also be fitted with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which reduces the top speed to 228 km/h, but keeps the benchmark sprint time unchanged.

Debuting in 2024 are two plug-in hybrid models – the 530e and 550e – and a brand-new six-cylinder turbodiesel, plus at a much later stage, the new M5 that will reportedly become a plug-in hybrid V8 developing over 700 pferdestarke (PS) or 515 kW.

In the United States, the 5 Series will carryover two engines from the G30 without any electrical assistance; a 190kW/400Nm 2.0-litre petrol-turbo in the 530i and a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six that makes 280kW/520Nm in the 540i.

Two EVs

The main drawing card though are the pair of electric models in the shape of the i5 eDrive 40 and the all-paw gripping i5 M60 that forms part of the M Performance range similar to the i4 M50i and the i7 xDrive 70.

Utilising an 81.2-kWh lithium-ion battery pack with a single electric motor, the eDrive 40 develops an everyday 230kW/400Nm, which increases to 250kW/430Nm with the based MyMode Sport box ticked.

Claimed top speed is 210 km/h with 0-100 km/h taking six seconds. Chargeable up to a 200 kW that requires a waiting time of 30 minutes from 10-80%, the eDrive has a claimed maximum range of 582 km and as a result of the battery pack, reduced boot capacity at 490-litres.

Completing the range, the M60 receives the same battery pack, but thanks to the inclusion of a second electric motor, offers up 380kW/795Nm. With the MyMode Sport upgrade though, outputs increase dramatically to 442kW/820Nm.

The claimed waiting time at the plug is similar to the eDrive 40, but in terms of performance, the M60 will get from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 230 km/h. The claimed maximum range is 516 km.

Joining next year alongside the 5 Series is the M60 Touring that, according to BMW, will become the first performance electric estate in Europe.

Coming to South Africa in 2023

On-sale in Europe from the third quarter of this year, the G60 5 Series has been rubberstamped for South Africa from the fourth quarter of 2023 with both mild-hybrid petrol and diesel engines, rear-wheel-drive and xDrive and with the xDrive 60 as flagship.

Expect detailed specification and price to be revealed then.

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