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BMW i5 2024 Model Global Launch And Details

The i5 is a sporty, elegant, premium sedan at the heart of the brand portfolio

With its distinctive appearance, the all new BMW 5-Series is right at the center of the brand’s portfolio of four-door models, which is more present and elegant than the 3-Series, more dynamic and sporty than the 7-Series.

The heightened presence of the new BMW 5-Series is underscored by the athletic proportions and the larger exterior dimensions compared to the previous generation.

BMW i5 2024

PRESS RELEASE: This new 5-Series model has grown in length by 3.4 inches to 199.2, in width by 1.3 inches to 74.8 and in height by 1.4 inches to 59.6. The wheelbase has been increased by 0.8 inches to 117.9 and improves seating comfort, especially in the rear.

BMW i5 2024

Modern front design with nearly vertical daytime driving light icons and optional illuminated BMW kidney grille

BMW i5 2024

The front view of the new BMW 5-Series Sedan is characterised by a modern interpretation of the brand’s signature twin headlights and BMW kidney grille. The LED headlights show the traditional four-lamp face in a modern, minimalist form. Two nearly vertical LED elements positioned towards the outside function as daytime running lights and turn signals.

BMW i5 2024

The BMW kidney grille, stylistically inspired by the so-called “Sharknose” of early 5-Series generations and projecting far forward, functions as the visual center at the front. All the lines of the front apron and the long hood, which connects directly to the kidney grille frame, run towards the front fascia. With its wide surround and optional illuminated contour line, the BMW kidney grille gives the front view a distinctively sporty appeal.

BMW i5 2024

Sporty silhouette and dynamically stretched proportions

The clear and simplified design language is also expressed in the side view of the new BMW 5-Series. Its dynamically elongated proportions, long hood, and almost upright BMW kidney grille are clearly visible from this perspective. The sporty character of the three-box design is also expressed in the steeply sloping A-pillar, the gently flowing roof line towards the rear, and the gradually sloping trunk line.

The side section has a pronounced athletic look thanks to a high shoulder line, powerfully modelled surfaces, and two distinct character lines. Black side skirts provide a graphic contrast to the rest of the bodywork, visually slimming the vehicle in profile. The door handles are flush with the surrounding surfaces. The Hofmeister kink is elegantly highlighted by a graphic element with the number ‘5’ embossed on the side window surround.

Powerful rear end with expressively designed lighting

At the transition to the rear, the shoulder and roof lines flow harmoniously into the contours of the lights. where horizontal lines emphasise the width and solid stature of the rear view.

The flat rear lights interpret the brand’s hallmark L-shaped lights with modern appeal. Inside, four narrow LED strips aligned horizontally handle lighting functions. They are divided by an Lshaped chrome strip.

Wide range of paintwork, BMW i5 M60 xDrive and M Sport Package with specific design features

The range of exterior paint colors includes one solid finish. nine metallic finishes, and three BMW Individual paint finishes including two expressive Frozen paint finishes.

Individual design features give the BMW i5 M60 xDrive a striking look, which emphasise its dynamic performance. A front apron with black surfaces at its center and large air intakes, a grille featuring horizontal slats and M logo, side skirts and exterior mirror caps finished in high-gloss black, 19-inch M light alloy wheels and a rear apron with a pronounced diffuser insert signal the M Performance model’s sporty character.

The M Sport Package is optionally available for all other model variants, and highlights 5-Series’ athleticism. It also includes M specific design features, most notably the large air intakes at the front, flared side skirts and window trim in high-gloss black and a rear apron with diffuser insert, as well as 19-inch M light alloy wheels.

The available M Sport Professional package, optional on all 5-Series models, adds the illuminated BMW kidney grille framed in high-gloss black, M Shadowline headlights, a discreet rear spoiler, and Extended Shadowline trim. Specifying the M Sport Professional package also allows the option of red calipers for the M Sport brakes.

Interior and Equipment. Driving pleasure and travel comfort combined with innovative flair

The new BMW 5-Series offers ideal conditions for enjoying BMW driving pleasure in everyday traffic and a high level of comfort on long-distance journeys. Generous space, modern functionality, a high level of acoustic comfort as well as high-quality materials, fine workmanship, and advanced digital services characterize the ambience in the interior.

The clear and modern design of the interior, sporty flair and innovative equipment features, designed to optimize travelling comfort, underline the vehicle’s character as a dynamic business sedan for the digital age.

The fully digital BMW Curved Display, which reinterprets the brand’s typical orientation towards the driver, represents the heart of the interior redesign. Other innovations include the BMW Interaction Bar with ambient lighting in the instrument panel and door area (standard on i5 models, optional on 530i and 530i xDrive), My Modes for a customizable driving and interior experience, and the new gear selector switch on the center console control panel.

With the significantly expanded level of standard equipment compared to the predecessor model and a new structure in the range of options, comfort and individuality are raised to a higher level.

Fully digital BMW Curved Display with new graphic display and optimized touch operation thanks to BMW Operating System 8.5 with QuickSelect

With its frameless glass surface slightly inclined towards the driver, the BMW Curved Display consists of a 12.3-inch Information Display behind the steering wheel and a 14.9-inch Control Display, which merge into a single fully digital and highresolution unit.

The BMW Curved Display is the central component of the multi-sensory BMW iDrive experience, which in its latest generation based on BMW Operating System 8.5 also offers a new graphic display with a clear start screen and QuickSelect access for simple and intuitive touch operation.

The control system is designed to be operated primarily by means of the touch screen and natural language, but also includes steering wheel buttons and the BMW iDrive Controller on the center console.

The BMW Head-Up Display and BMW Natural Interaction for controlling functions using gestures are available as optional equipment. The advances in digitalization that accompany the development of the BMW iDrive make it possible to significantly reduce the number of buttons, knobs and controls used in the cockpit. They continue to be used where they are the ideal solution for fast and intuitive operation.

The new BMW Operating System 8.5 start screen permanently shows the map view of the navigation system or other individually configurable displays. On the same level, vertically arranged widgets are available on the driver’s side of the BMW Control Display.

Users can switch between the widgets by swiping vertically. To display different content, horizontal swiping is also possible within some widgets, for example in the “My Vehicle” area.

The corresponding functions can be called up directly with QuickSelect without switching to a submenu. Once the settings have been made, it is sufficient to tap the Home symbol at the bottom of the display to return to the start screen. In addition to the Home symbol, there are now also the symbols for direct access to the climate control menu, the All Apps menu, Navigation as well as Media, Communication, and Apple CarPlay ® and Android Auto ™.

In addition, BMW Operating System 8.5 in the new BMW 5-Series offers a wider range of digital content for information and entertainment, faster update cycles for functions, improved information on charging points for electric vehicles and optimized access to many specific online services. A broad range of video streaming is possible on the Control Display, as is an innovative form of in-car gaming presented for the first time in the new BMW 5-Series with the AirConsole platform.

Drive and charging technology. Dazzling performance and outstanding efficiency

A flexibly designed drive architecture that was open to different technologies from the outset enables the new BMW 5-Series Sedan to be offered for the first time both as an all-electric model and with highly efficient internal combustion engines.

This global strategy ensures that customers around the world are offered a choice of models tailored to their individual needs, as well as to the infrastructure conditions and legal framework of their region.

The electric motors developed by BMW are characterised by impressively high power density and efficiency. They work according to the principle of a current-excited synchronous machine. This makes it possible to completely dispense with the critical raw materials from the rare earth metal sector required for magnetic components when manufacturing the rotor.

At market launch, the all-electric BMW i5 will be available in two model variants. The BMW i5 M60 xDrive performance model is positioned at the top of the 5-Series range. Like the BMW i5 eDrive40, it is equipped with extensively enhanced fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology.

BMW i5 eDrive40: Advanced BMW eDrive technology, traditional rear-wheel drive

The electric motor of the BMW i5 eDrive40, located at the rear axle, generates a maximum power output of 335 hp and maximum torque of 295 lb-ft, or 317 lb-ft when the Sport Boost or Launch Control function is activated.

The sprint from 0-60 mph requires only 5.7 seconds. The maximum speed of the BMW i5 eDrive40 is electronically limited to 120 mph.

BMW i5 M60 xDrive: All-electric driving pleasure at the top of the model range

The BMW i5 M60 xDrive sits at the top of the 5-Series range and combines a 590 hp electric drivetrain with hallmark M performance characteristics and specific design features.

Two highly integrated drive units on the front and rear axles, in which the electric motor, power electronics, and transmission are compactly combined in a common housing, form an electric all-wheel drive system that enables the BMW i5 M60 xDrive to deliver captivating dynamic performance.

The electric motor acting on the rear wheels generates a maximum power output of 335 hp, while the motor at the front axle produces 257 hp. The total system torque generated by both motors is 549 lb-ft, or 605 lb-ft when M Sport Boost or the M Launch Control function is activated.

This power enables the new BMW i5 M60 to accelerate from 0-60 mph in an explosive 3.7 seconds, and the power is delivered continuously as speeds increase. The maximum speed of the BMW i5 M60 xDrive is electronically limited 143 mph when equipped with performance tires (130 mph with all-season tires).

In order to activate full drive power on demand, the BMW i5 M60 xDrive and i5 eDrive40 (when equipped with the optional M Sport package) feature a shift paddle marked “Boost” near the left steering wheel spoke.

If the paddle is pulled for more than 0.8 seconds, a Sport Boost indicator appears on the Information Display. It indicates that a high level of power is being requested by the accelerator pedal which then triggers maximum acceleration. At the same time, the Iconic Sounds Electric sound changes to SPORT.

In conjunction with the M Sport Package Pro, the Launch Control function standard on the i5 M60 xDrive is also available for the i5 eDrive40. Extremely dynamic acceleration from standstill is enabled via precise coordination of the drive and traction control systems.

High-voltage battery with compact design and high energy content

Like the drive units, the high-voltage battery used in each BMW i5 model is also derived from the latest fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. It is composed of four modules with 72 battery cells each and three modules with twelve cells each.

The high-voltage battery has a low profile thanks to the modules being cleverly and model-specifically designed. This means it can be fitted in the underbody of the BMW i5 to save space. In fact, the amount of space available for the passengers in the electric 5-Series is identical to that available in the internal combustion variants.

The high-voltage battery in the BMW i5 combines compact dimensions with high energy density. It provides a usable energy content of 84.3 kWh. Combined with the high efficiency of their electric motors, this provides ranges suitable for long journeys for both model variants of the BMW i5.

When fitted with standard 19-inch wheels, the i5 eDrive40 is estimated to travel up to 295 miles on a single charge, while the range of the high performance i5 M60 xDrive is estimated at 256 miles (estimated ranges according to preliminary BMW AG tests based on the EPA’s test procedure standards).

The Combined Charging Unit in the BMW i5 enables Level 2 AC charging up to 11 kW. When connected to a DC fast charger, the charging rate of 205 kW means the battery can be topped up from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes.

When driving, the latest version of adaptive recuperation helps to conserve the power reserves and recover electrical energy during throttle lift-off and braking phases. Thanks to intelligent networking, the drive control system can use navigation data and information from sensors of the driver assistance systems to adjust how much power is recuperated according to the respective traffic situation.

As an alternative to this adaptive recuperation, the driver can select high, medium, or low braking energy recovery for all traffic situations in the BMW iDrive menu. Low recuperation enables a “coast” function. The BMW i5 simply rolls along without drive torque as soon as the accelerator pedal is released.

Efficiency is further enhanced by a novel intelligent combination of heat pump technology for the integrated heating and cooling circuit of the interior as well as for the heating and cooling system of the drive and the high-voltage battery of the BMW i5.

This allows both the interior and the high-voltage battery to be heated simultaneously with the heat pump function and, if required, with a central electric auxiliary heater.

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