At the weekend, the legendary Concorso d’Eleganza at the Villa d’Este on Lake Como took place again, and we have been part of it. There we also got the chance to have a closer look at the first-ever BMW i5. And we have to say, we absolutely like the new design.

As impressive as ever, featuring a range of digital advancements and, for the first time, completely electrified drive – this is how the new BMW 5 Series Sedan rises to the challenge. Under its BMW i5 nameplate, the brand’s most successful business sedan is leading the journey towards sustainable premium mobility in the upper mid-range vehicle category.

In October 2023 the new BMW 5 Series Sedan will be released onto the market globally and will be offered with a range of powertrain options – from all-electric drive, to plug-in hybrid systems, to efficient petrol and diesel engines including 48-volt mild hybrid technology. As with earlier model generations, the BMW 5 Series will be produced at the BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, where the electric motors and high-voltage batteries for the BMW i5 are also assembled.

The exterior design

The new design of the BMW i5 is very clear and reduced emphasising its sporty elegance., with its dimensions being slightly larger than that of the previous model. The front of the new BMW i5 features a modernised version of the iconic twin headlights and kidney grille. The grille has a wide outline and the option for optional BMW Iconic Glow contour lighting. The side view captures its athleticism with its high shoulder line, well-defined surfaces, and two sharp character lines. Its dynamic shape leads to a distinctive rear that is accented by flat rear lights divided by a chrome strip in an L-shape.

The interior design

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is the first car of its brand to come standard with a strictly vegan interior. This includes the seats, the door panels, and even the steering wheel which are fitted with the high-quality leather alternative Veganza.

The cockpit of the new BMW 5 Series has been modernised with fewer physical buttons and controls. This is achieved by digitising functions. The driver-oriented BMW Curved Display blends a 12.3-inch Information Display and a 14.9-inch Control Display. In addition, the lower section of the steering wheel has been flattened and fitted with haptic feedback on the control panels, as well as a selector lever on the center console. As an optional feature, drivers can choose the BMW Interaction Bar, an effectively backlit functional unit that covers the entire width of the instrument panel extending into the door panels, with touch sensitive control panels for added convenience.

Performance and charging

The all-electric BMW i5 is powered by advanced fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology and is available in two versions, where the BMW i5 M60 xDrive is the top model featuring a drive system offering up to 442 kW/601 hp of power, with the added benefit of M performance and unique design elements. Between its front and rear axles, the electric all-wheel drive distributes 820 Nm of torque when the M Sport Boost or M Launch Control functions are activated. This combination grants the BMW i5 M60 an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, while its top speed is electronically limited to 230 km/h.

The second version is the BMW i5 eDrive40 electric car that has a rear-wheel drive motor that produces 250 kW and provides maximum torque of up to 430 Nm with Sport Boost or Launch Control function. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 6 seconds, and tops out at 193 km/h.

The BMW i5 M60 xDrive has a respective WLTP range of 455 - 516 kilometers, while the BMW i5 eDrive40 version boasts an impressive 497 - 582 kilometers on a single charge. The new MAX RANGE feature can boost the range by as much as 25% by limiting power and speed and turning off comfort functions if necessary.

The BMW i5 comes standard with a Combined Charging Unit (CCU) that provides up to 11kW of AC power to charge the car, but you can upgrade to get up to 22 kW in total. It can also take direct current (DC) power up to 205 kW, allowing you to charge the high voltage battery from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes.

Pictures: BMW / Enes Kucevic for ellectric