Richard Aucock, Contributor
Thursday, April 27, 2023
- The new BMW i5 is an EV version of the new BMW 5 Series
- Final testing is nearing completion before its imminent reveal
- Two versions will be offered at launch, an i5 eDrive40 and an i5 M60 xDrive
- It will arrive in the UK later this year with prices starting at £70,000
The new BMW i5 is an all-electric version of the new BMW 5 Series that will be fully revealed in a matter of weeks when final testing is nearing completion. Sharing the same body and interior as the upcoming BMW 5 Series, the new BMW i5 is a crucial new model for the company as the profitable and long-running 5 Series lineup goes EV for the first time.
The new BMW i5 will take on the Mercedes-Benz EQE. There’s a new Mercedes-Benz E-Class model this year, but unlike BMW, Mercedes-Benz won’t be offering an electric version – the pure electric EQE is a stand-alone range. However, there is expected to be an electric version of the new Audi A6 next year, called the Audi A6 e-tron.
Other electric cars likely to compete with the new BMW i5 include the Lucid Air, a future new version of the Tesla Model S and possibly even a future electric sedan from Alfa Romeo.
2023 BMW i5 pricing and release date
The new BMW i5 is likely to cost more than £70,000, or around £10,000 more than a comparable BMW 5 Series. This will bring it in line with the Mercedes-Benz EQE, which costs from just over £74,000.
Series production will begin in Germany this year and orders will open in the UK, with the first new BMW i5 likely to be delivered in late 2023 or early 2024.
Bosses have also confirmed a new BMW i5 Touring family version of the new BMW i5. This will be revealed in 2024 and will go on sale before the end of the year.
2023 BMW i5 style, interior and technology
The new BMW i5 will be visually similar to the new BMW 5 Series, which will be fully revealed in May. It will differ only in details, such as a closed and more aerodynamic front end, in addition to the “electric blue” detail that BMW likes to put on its electric “i” cars.
Currently, the new BMW i5 has only been camouflaged. This has been proven around the world, from the Arctic Circle to the sweltering heat of southern France in the middle of summer.
Underneath the camouflage, the traditional three-box sedan layout of the new BMW i5 is clear. While the new Mercedes-Benz EQE has a swoopy ‘monoform’ shape, BMW has stuck to a more classic look, making it part of the 5 Series family.
The new BMW i5 will have a long, flat hood, a roof line that integrates with the rear window, and a vertical, sedan-style trunk lid. BMW will carefully manage the transition between the rear screen and the boot lid, in order to maximize aerodynamic efficiency, but the links with the previous BMW 5 Series will still be clear.
Aside from the new BMW i5’s recessed door handles and some sharper, purer lines similar to the new BMW 7 Series, the styling is likely to be more evolutionary than revolutionary.
In fact, although the new BMW i5 will have a wider grille than previous models, it will still look “normal”. It won’t have the exaggerated proportions of the new BMW 7 Series or BMW i4. Other design details will also be less divisive, as customers for the new BMW i5 are likely to be more traditional.
The new BMW i5 will have an interior inspired by the high-tech and high-quality design of the new BMW 7 Series. It will use the BMW 8.5 infotainment operating system, with a curved screen. The fully connected system is ready for over-the-air updates and will allow owners to subscribe to new features as they become available.
The futuristic feel of the interior of the new BMW i5 will be combined with premium luxury. There will be extensive use of soft surfaces, luxury textiles, plush leather and ‘vegan’ leather-free options. Cut-glass-style switches will add to the effect, and multi-colored ambient lighting will be available.
The new BMW i5 will offer more space in the back than the current BMW 5 Series. The batteries will not encroach on the total cabin space. The trunk is likely to remain the same size as the regular new BMW 5 Series sedan. BMW will have worked hard here to ensure that the confirmed new BMW i5 Touring is as practical as it can be.
The new BMW 5 Series has a new type of highway assistant with automated lane change that uses visual activation. Part of the Driving Assistant Professional package, it can be used at speeds of up to 85 mph. An interior camera monitors the driver’s eyes and initiates the maneuver once they have confirmed that this is what they want them to do. It means they don’t have to click the indicator stalk to initiate the lane change.
BMW i5 2023 electric motor, performance and range
At launch there will be two new BMW i5 variants, a single-engine BMW i5 eDrive40 and a dual-engine BMW i5 M60 xDrive. Both will be powered by an expected 81 kWh battery, which will be mounted under the floor. As the related BMW 5 Series will offer gasoline engines and plug-in hybrids, the new BMW i5 will still have a traditional transmission tunnel.
Expect an electric range of around 320 miles from the new BMW i5. The Mercedes-Benz EQE has a longer range of up to about 380 miles, but that’s because it comes with a bigger, heavier (and more expensive) battery. Expect 200kW DC fast charging functionality from the new BMW i5.
The new BMW i5 has been in road testing for over a year. BMW has given it a dedicated development program, rather than simply treating it as a derivative of the new BMW 5 Series. This will give “BMW driving pleasure, regardless of the driving concept involved.”
The range-topping BMW i5 M60 xDrive will include Professional Adaptive Suspension as standard. This includes electronically controlled dampers, with various driving modes including Sport and Sport Plus. The system is engineered by a new version of BMW Vertical Dynamics Management, which takes into account all variables such as steering speed, acceleration and yaw rate to deliver the ideal damping forces.
The system, which has BMW, no longer uses mathematical models, but physically calculates the optimal configuration for the new BMW i5, in real time. Both in terms of ride and handling, it is “a clear step forward from its predecessor”. Optional adaptive anti-roll is also available in the new BMW i5.
Regular versions of the new BMW i5 will also drive well, the firm promises. It says ride comfort will approach BMW 7 Series levels, with the familiar sporty agility of the BMW 3 Series.
Before you step into a showroom, read our in-depth guide to all the new cars arriving in the next 12 months and beyond; some are worth the wait.
Will there be a new BMW i5 Touring?
Bosses have confirmed there will be a new BMW i5 Touring, the world’s first executive electric family car. It is likely to be popular in the UK and Europe.
Will the new BMW i5 look different from the BMW 5 Series?
As with the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé and the BMW i4, the new BMW i5 will feature detail differences compared to the BMW 5 Series; the general shape of the car will be identical.
How big is the battery in the new BMW i5?
The new BMW i5 is expected to have an 81 kWh battery.
Ask HJ
Should I order a new car now or wait for stock?
I would like to buy the BMW i4 M50. I understand that delivery could be June 2022 if I order one now, but I’m concerned that this could take longer even though deliveries to Germany are ahead of schedule. How about if I sit tight and try to get a stock car later? If I order a new one, can I cancel without penalty if it is not delivered as promised?
The offer should gradually improve this year, but I think you’ll be lucky to get a car in stock and it would be best to order now. Whether you can cancel your order without penalty will depend on the terms and conditions of the contract, although dealers have been more flexible. So check all the formalities carefully and ask the dealer before committing to anything.
Answered by Sarah Tooze
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