BMW reportedly introduces a new electric 5 series sedan with almost 300 miles of range. The new i5 in question is set to come in two versions which are a longer-range eDrive40 as well as a sportier M60 xDrive.
BMW Electric 5 Series Sedan
BMW at the moment is bringing electrification to the 5 Series. The German-based company recently announced this week that the eighth generation of the sedan that slots in between the 3 Series and 7 Series will be coming as an electric version, the i5, as well as a refreshed gas equivalent on the other hand.
And very much like it did with the 4 Series and 7 Series, BMW is now taking its gas-powered models and then releasing electric variants that are built on the very same platform.
The electric 5 Series as you should know is coming in two trim levels which are the i5 eDrive40, with rear-wheel drive, 335 horsepower, and a 295 pound-feet of torque; and the sporty i5 M60 xDrive, which sports an all-wheel drive, 601 horsepower, and 605 pound-feet of torque.
The eDrive40 version in question will reportedly leap from 0–60 mph in six seconds, while the M60 trim on the other hand will close the gap in only 3.8 seconds. And both versions are electronically speed limited to 120 mph just so you know.
BMW Electric 5 Series Sedan Battery
An 81.2kWh battery pack as you should know will propel the i5 to up to 516 km (320 miles) of range which is based on the less conservative WLTP standard. And for charging on the other hand, BMW is reportedly teaming up with Volkswagen’s Electrify America in a bid to offer two years of unlimited fast charging of up to 30 minutes. The i5 too can accept up to 205kW of fast charging, which can then take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in just about 30 minutes.
The electric 5 Series will however be one of the first cars to feature the new hands-free highway driving features of BMW. The car also can suggest lane changes, which the driver can easily confirm just by looking directly in the exterior mirror.
BMW Electric 5 Series Sedan Infotainment System
BMW has now redesigned its infotainment system in the 5 Series to now include in-car gaming for the very first time. A host of games are now accessible while the vehicle is parked, which will help drivers pass the time while charging, for instance. Video streaming also will now be available for parked cars.
The trademark kidney grille is a tad bit more toned down as compared to the toothsome i7 and iX but it is still unabashedly in your face. The grille has now become somewhat of a kind of polarizing design choice, especially in the EV era in which airflow is less of a major concern, but BMW is however not backing down from this very signature styling in question.
BMW Electric 5 Series Sedan Pricing
The i5 overall is a bit more conservative in regards to its design and technology than the more opulent i7 on the other hand. I mean, come on, how do you top a 31-inch, 8K drop-down movie screen for rear passengers?
But taking a look at a starting price of $67,795, the i5 is however still definitely a premium vehicle. It will not qualify for the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits though, which caps eligible prices at $55,000. Nor will the more powerful (and yet more expensive) M5 version of the i5, which kicks things off at $85,095.
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