The BMW brand will continue the electrification of its range this year by unveiling a fully electric version of its legendary 5 Series mid-size sedan.
This new livery will be called i5 and will evolve alongside a new and eighth generation of the model which will be unveiled in parallel next October. Sold in more than 10 million copies since 1972, the 5 Series is one of the models that have shaped the DNA of BMW sometimes with the necessary reserve, sometimes with the grip of its M5 versions. It’s no wonder, then, that it resists the irresistible wave of SUVs that always breaks.
Regarding the i5, it will be the very first electric version of the 5 Series, an important and necessary milestone to comply with the various electrification frameworks. The manufacturer refused to reveal any technical explanations for its new protege. An M Performance variant is however in the pipeline to follow the example of the compact i4. It wouldn’t be surprising, however, if the iX SUV’s electric motors were chosen for the mission, producing 516 hp or 619 hp with all-wheel drive.
This new i5 is part of a major electrification plan for the BMW Group – which includes BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce – targeting total sales of 10 million electric vehicles by 2030. At the current rate, the milestone of 2 million electron-fed vehicles expected to be exceeded by 2025, top executives say.
On the side of the new 5 Series, BMW promises the light hybrid as well as a plug-in proposal to reduce its thirst, without advancing anything else. We have also confirmed the return of an M5 in the range, an evolution which will be interesting to observe in the face of the high-performance all-electric offer. To be continued, therefore.