BMW i5 (& new 5er)

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The all new electric i5 & the new 5er will be shown in October.

Electric BMW i5 undergoes snow and ice testing

The Electric BMW i5 is getting tantalizingly close to its official launch. The company released an official update on the progress of winter testing and we get to see the i5 sliding around in an almost undisguised form. The camouflage the test vehicles are wearing doesn’t hide much.

The BMW i5 will be unveiled in just a few months, alongside its ICE-powered 8th generation 5-series siblings. BMW executives already confirmed that the i5 will feature both single and dual-motor powertrains. The juiciest bit though, is the confirmation that the M Division is working on its own performance version of the BMW i5.

For those buyers with large families or a lot of stuff to lug around, the i5 Touring will be a perfect choice. That’s right, BMW is bringing a wagon version of its electric sedan and yes, the M Division will have its input into the fast version. It feels like all birthdays and Christmas got together for the best present ever.

While the Touring version won’t be available until 2024, the i5 M version will sit somewhere between the i4 M50 and i7 M70 or iX M60. That means around 600 hp and an AWD powertrain with at least a 90 kWh battery pack. Will it be the perfect wagon that blends performance and usability like the M5 Touring versions of the old days?

BMW will officially take the wraps off the 8th generation 5-Series and i5 in October and the marketing machine is already in full swing. We can expect more photos and videos to follow in the coming months and there is no way BMW can keep the i5 details secret all the way to October - so stay tuned.




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BMW i5: first pictures of electric 5 Series before imminent debut

Next iteration of executive saloon/estate will field combustion, plug-in hybrid and EV versions from this year

The new electric BMW i5 is due to be revealed in the coming months, having completed "the ultimate endurance test".

The highly anticipated EV version of the next-generation BMW 5 Series was confirmed for a 2023 launch in January, but only now has Munich released images of the Mercedes-Benz EQE rival undergoing a hardcore testing programme on ice, snow and rough roads in northern Sweden.

In a year-long test phase (during which Autocar's spy photographers spotted these camouflaged prototypes), the i5 "repeatedly demonstrated both the stability of its electric powertrain and its dynamic performance qualities".

A debut date still hasn't been confirmed for the i5 saloon - nor its ICE counterpart or the keenly anticipated i5 Touring estate, which was recently confirmed. But with this test programme dispatched and a 2023 launch confirmed, it's expected to be only a matter of months until the wraps come off.

 
The new electric BMW 5 Series – the i5 – will drift*

*On ice, as shown here during its winter testing regime in Sweden

BMW has revealed that its upcoming electric 5 Series saloon – dubbed the i5 – will drift.

Though, not with such specificity. BMW instead opted for the more diplomatic approach. “The new BMW i5 repeatedly demonstrated both the stability of its electric powertrain and its dynamic performance qualities over the course of arduous test drives in wintry conditions.”

Must be arduous sliding a big saloon about on northern Sweden’s finest ice lakes, sure. We’re told the incoming i5 features a further tweaked version of BMW’s fifth-generation electric powertrain, a version of which sits underneath the TG Award-winning BMW i4.

We don’t know what powertrain(s) were being tested here, but the i4 for example, features a twin-motor M50 variant – the best-selling M car of 2022, fact fans! – producing 537bhp and capable of 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds. The rear-drive single motor i4 – ‘eDrive40’ – will do that benchmark in under six seconds and offer 365 miles of range.

 
Electric BMW i5 undergoes final tuning before the world premiere

BMW is preparing the ground for the launch of a truly groundbreaking vehicle. The company just shared an update on the i5 and revealed a little secret to go with it.

The i5 is currently undergoing the final stages of suspension tuning at the Miramas testing grounds in France. This actually is the most boring part of vehicle testing - it involves countless hours of driving over the same track and adjusting the suspension setup. Then the results are recorded, and compared until an ideal setup is found.

The result is the highly specific handling characteristics of the BMW 5-series. Comfortable yet sporty and composed. The i5 significantly differs from its gas and diesel-powered siblings and needs a setup tailored to its different weight and balance.

At the same time, BMW is testing its latest Vertical Dynamic Management that adjusts the suspension as required by the driver. The Highway Assistant is constantly being tested in as many scenarios as possible to ensure it is ready for the customers.


 
BMW teases new i5 EV ahead of May 24 unveiling

BMW has started teasing the unveiling of its next EV, the i5. This will take place on May 24, and the company has released a couple of quick video teasers onto its social media accounts to mark the beginning of the teaser campaign.

The first one shows the silhouette of the i5 approaching, and showcases the LED-contoured 'kidney' grille, as well as the LED headlights turning on. Surprise! The new i5 looks like a modern-era, recent BMW.

The second teaser focuses on the inside, panning from the front passenger area to show us that there are tons of LEDs all over and then allowing us to see the dash area and specifically the huge central display, with, you guessed it, some more LEDs underneath where more of the controls reside.

https://www.arenaev.com/bmw_teases_new_i5_ev_ahead_of_may_24_unveiling-news-1772.php


 
First images of the brand new BMW i5 leaked

BMW managed to keep the all-new all-electric i5 a secret for much longer than it usually takes. We are a week away from the official global debut of the executive BMW sedan and wagon, and only just now the first official images have been leaked. This was a good effort on BMW’s behalf, but not good enough for the internet.

We can all relax now - the i5 keeps a rather restrained design, and the kidney-shaped grille comes in a normal size. The i5, just like the upcoming electric 3-series, is a high-volume seller, and the company decided to play a safe game and not risk any controversy. The beaver face of the i7 and iX is nowhere to be seen - what we have here is a classy-looking 4-door sedan.



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