Modern tradition
Although there is no doubt that BMW’s cars are undergoing a profound transformation, it is no less true that the 5 Series is probably the model with the most traditional customer base in the brand’s entire catalogue.
More than the 3 Series and even the 7 Series, the 5 Series must find a perfect balance between past, present and future if it is to remain the leader in its segment and be the flagship that BMW needs to represent its brand ideals.
With a design that echoes the model’s usual proportions whilst trimming enough fat from its predecessors to be overtly modern, the aesthetics are one of the strong points of this latest Bavarian novelty. You won’t have to look twice to know that this is the new 5.
The new saloon – the Touring body will arrive in 2024 – will be produced at the Dingolfing factory and will come with petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and 100% electric options. The biggest change from the last generation’s range of options is the BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), aptly named the i5.
The entry-level i5 eDrive40 has an electric engine with 340hp and 430Nm at the rear axle.
The announced range is 579km, the top speed is 193km/h and it takes 6 seconds to go from 0-100km/h.
At the top of the pyramid, the i5 M60 xDrive adds a second engine to the front axle with 260hp and 365Nm. Since it is heavier and has all-wheel drive, it has a shorter range of 516km, but the performance is totally different: top speeds of 230km/h and 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds.
For the first time, the 5 Series exceeds five metres in length (5.06m), with a width of 1.90m and a height of 1.505m, including a wheelbase of 2.995m. The boot has a capacity of 520 litres (30 litres less in the i5 due to the batteries).
As for the cabin, the 5 is the first BMW to offer only vegan options for the floor coverings as standard, in a clear nod to sustainability.
The BMW Curved Display brings together two 12.3’’ and 14.9’’ screens as the basis for the excellent infotainment system, which even includes the AirConsole, a panoply of options available to the user to pass the time whilst the i5 is charging. BMW interiors are undoubtedly still at the forefront.
The new 5 Series carries a huge responsibility on its shoulders, but it has all the ingredients to be an extremely valuable link in the reinvention of what it means to be a BMW.
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