The 2024 BMW 5 Series and its electric i5 twin have been revealed ahead of a fourth quarter 2023 Australian release. Revealed overnight, the new 5er adds a bold new design, a larger body, significantly more technology and a revised range of powerplants, including just one petrol engine for now – though the high-performance M5 will likely use a plug-in hybrid V8 engine is due within 18 months.
According to BMW, “the new BMW 5 Series is the most advanced ever developed and will bring to market an array of features and digital innovations while delivering new levels of luxury, style and dynamic potential.”
Underneath the new 5 Series is BMW’s ‘CLAR’ platform, which is also used in the current model – though revised for the new car. Dimensionally, the 2024 BMW 5 Series has grown – it’s now 5,060mm long (+97mm), 1,900mm wide (+32mm), 1,515mm tall (+36mm) and its wheelbase is now 2,995mm long (+20mm). The boot, however, is slightly smaller by 10-litres at 520L (i5: 490L).
Stylistically, the 2024 BMW 5 Series is bolder than before – though not as aggressive as the iX or XM SUVs. The front still uses the company’s classic ‘kidney’ grilles, but they are larger and more aggressive this time around, and are also illuminated too – petrol versions use vertical lovers, but the electric i5 uses a blanked-off black plastic look instead. The side profile is smoother than before for greater aerodynamic efficiency – the i5 eDrive40 is rated at just 0.23Cd – while the rear’s shorter deck is noticeable.
Inside the 2024 BMW 5 Series follows other BMW products like the 7 Series and i7 with a huge curved display incorporating a 14.9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display. The touchscreen runs BMW’s latest iDrive 8.5 operating system, uses an inbuilt eSIM and offers video game and movie streaming for the first time. Unlike the new X1, the iDrive in the 5er still uses the controller in the centre console, though it can also be controlled using touch.
Initially for Australia, there will be three variants: the petrol 520i and the electric i5 eDrive40 and i5 M60 xDrive. The 520i uses a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system, making 153kW of power and 330Nm of torque. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and hits 100km/h from 0 in as little as 7.5 seconds.
The two electric i5 variants use an 82kWh battery for up to 582km of range (WLTP) for the eDrive40 and 516km for the M60 xDrive. The eDrive40 uses a 250kW/430Nm electric motor on the rear wheels for a 6.0-second 0-100km/h sprint time – the M60 adds a front axle electric motor for 442kW of power and 820Nm of torque and a 0-100km/h sprint of just 3.8 seconds.
The i5 can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 30 minutes, using a DC fast charger up to 205kW – it can be charged using AC charging up to 22kW as well. A complimentary five-year subscription to Chargefox, Australia’s largest charging network, is included in each i5 variant.
Standard equipment on the 520i includes 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start with remote start, a panoramic roof, adaptive LED lighting, auto wipers, the M Sport Package with suede and faux leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a heads-up display, an eSIM allowing for live services, BMW Live Cockpit Professional incorporating a 14.9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, digital radio, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a wireless phone charger, an automatic bootlid, an alarm, carbon fibre interior trim, ambient lighting and heated front sports seats with lumbar adjustment.
Safety kit includes auto emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist with lane centre assist, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic alert, automatic parking, low-speed automatic braking, front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera.
The i5 eDrive40 adds larger 20-inch wheels, adaptive suspension, type two and type three charging cable, a 22kW AC onboard charger, acoustic exterior noises for pedestrians, a 17-speaker Bowers and Wilkins sound system, leather upholstery, metallic paint and the five-year Chargefox subscription.
The upper-spec i5 M50 xDrive then adds larger 21-inch wheels, adaptive M suspension with electronically-controlled anti-roll bars, an M rear spoiler, four-zone climate control, ventilated front seats and class interior elements.
The 2024 BMW 5 Series and i5 will go on sale in fourth quarter of 2023. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
Leave a Reply