BMW Introduces New 5 Series Sedan with Gasoline and Electric Options
BMW has announced the release of a new 5 Series sedan, which will be available in both gasoline and electric versions later this year. The sedan will be powered by a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft of torque. The sedan will be available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, with an 8-speed automatic transmission as the sole option.
For those seeking a more powerful gasoline-fed option, BMW is offering the 540i xDrive, which features a 3.0L inline-six turbo engine capable of producing 375 horsepower and a maximum of 398 lb.-ft of torque. This represents a significant increase in power over the previous model.
The electric version of the sedan will be available in two trims, both denoted by the letter “i”. The i5 eDrive40 will feature an electric motor on the rear wheels, producing 335 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft of torque. The i5 M60 xDrive will have an additional motor up front, creating all-wheel drive and producing 590 horsepower with a similar amount of torque.
Both electric trims will feature a lithium-ion battery with a usable energy content of 84.3 kWh and a maximum charging rate of 205 kW. This means that the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in about half an hour using fast chargers. The more powerful i5 trim will also feature a staggered tire setup, with 275s in the rear instead of 245s all around. Four-wheel steering will also be available.
The new sedan features updated styling, with BMW opting for a more restrained design compared to recent models such as the 4 Series and XM grille. The interior of the sedan mimics much of what is found in the 7 Series, with enormous curved displays, active driving and parking assistance, nearly invisible ventilation registers, and a variety of styling options.
In 2022, BMW sold 20,589 sedans in North America, nearly twice the volume of the 2 Series and roughly a couple thousand units shy of the X4 and X6 combined. The X5 remains the top-selling BMW model, with 82,372 units sold in North America in 2022.
Prices for the new sedan start at $57,900 for the four-cylinder gasoline version, $64,900 for the six-cylinder gasoline version, and $66,800 for the electric version. The global market launch of the new 5 Series is set to begin in October 2023.
