BMW has unveiled the new 5 Series and its electric counterpart, the i5, both of which are available to order now and will arrive in the UK in October.
Bigger than its predecessor, the latest BMW 5 Series benefits from a longer wheelbase and provides more room for passengers.
It borrows a variety of new features and styling details from cars like the i4 and new 7 Series, including the wraparound Curved Display, which integrates the instrument cluster and infotainment screen into one seamless panel.
The updated iDrive 8.5 operating system delivers video-on-demand services and built-in gaming, to entertain passengers on the move and drivers when they're waiting for the car to charge.
No diesel powertrains are being offered at launch. Only a petrol-powered 520i will be available, alongside the electric i5 variant.
BMW confirmed two plug in hybrid models, with up to 62 miles of zero-emission capability, will be available from November. These will be badged 530e and 550e.
The 520i is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology. It produces 208PS and has CO2 emissions from 130g/km. Prices start at £49,850.
The BMW i5 eDrive40 uses a single electric motor, providing power to the rear wheels. It has an output of 340PS and 430Nm. The 81.2kWh (useable) battery gives a range of 296 - 362 miles, according to WLTP. The i5 eDrive 40 is priced from £73,200.
The high-voltage battery used in the all-electric variants is derived from the latest fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. It is composed of four modules with 72 battery cells each and three modules with 12 cells each.
The battery has a particularly flat design, says BMW, and is fitted in the underbody of the BMW i5 to save space.
The latest version of adaptive recuperation also helps to conserve or recover energy.
The system can use navigation data and information from the driver assistance systems to adjust how much power is recuperated according to traffic levels.
The driver can also select high, medium or low braking energy recovery in the BMW iDrive menu.
Low recuperation triggers the coasting function – the BMW i5 rolls along without drive torque as soon as the accelerator is released.
Efficiency is further enhanced by combining the heat pump technology for the interior and the drive units and battery.
BMW also offers an i5 M60 variant, with a twin-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain. Using the same battery, it produces 601PS and 820Nm. It costs £96,840 and the range is 282 - 320 miles.
The Combined Charging Unit enables AC charging up to 11kW as standard and optionally up to 22kW (standard on the i5 M60 xDrive). The battery can be charged with DC up to 205kW. This allows the charge level to be raised from 10% - 80% in around 30 minutes. In addition, the range can be increased by up to 97 miles in 10 minutes.
BMW will expand its line-up with a Touring estate version of both the 5 Series and i5, in 2024.
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Matt has been an automotive journalist for eight years. As senior staff writer he is responsible for the automotive content on Fleet News and also contributes to Automotive Management. Prior to this, Matt worked in the automotive industry for 10 years.
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