The highly anticipated eighth-generation 5 Series will land in October
Big-selling saloon gets a hybrid variant from October; plug-in hybrids available next month
Full pricing and specification details have been revealed for the new BMW 5 Series, which is now open for order with the first deliveries set to begin imminently.
BMW has priced the new 5 Series from £51,000 in the UK, rising as high as £97,745 for the all-electric, range-topping BMW i5 M60 xDrive.
The German saloon is offered with a mild-hybrid variant here, plus two plug-in hybrids as the brand prioritises electrification.
As such, the BMW 5 Series range opens with the electrified 520i, which runs the latest version of BMW’s familiar turbocharged 2.0-litre four-pot mild-hybrid petrol engine, paired with an 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission.
Power stands at 205bhp and 228lb ft of torque, and it completes 0-62mph in 7.5sec.An eight-speed automatic gearbox is fitted as standard, with a top speed of 143mph.
A plug-in hybrid BMW 5 Series will cost slightly more, coming in at £59,455. The rear-wheel drive 530e produces 299bhp and 331lb ft. BMW also claims a fuel consumption figure of between 403.5 and 470.8mpg.
The more powerful four-wheel-drive 550e xDrive produces 489bhp and 516lb ft, but starts from £76,550 – a £17,095 increase over the RWD version. It does however gain significantly enhanced performance, completing 0-62mph in 4.3sec, with a consumption figure of 282.5- 353.1mpg.
Both plug-in hybrid models are equipped with a new 19.4kWh lithium-ion battery, providing the 530e with an electric-only range of between 54 and 62 miles and the 550e xDrive with between 49 and 56 miles. BMW has also increased the AC charging capacity of its petrol-electric 5-series models to 7.4kW for faster recharging.
Although two diesel models, which both use a 193bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel engine, will be offered in the range, these won’t be available to UK buyers.
The basis for the new 5-series, in both forms, is BMW’s Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform – the same structure that underpins all BMW models featuring either a longitudinally mounted internal combustion engine or electric drivetrain.
The basis for the new 5-series – which is also set to spawn a successor to the 5-series Touring in early 2024, is BMW’s Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform.
The new model, which dons a more muscular look, is still dominated by BMW’s classic kidney grille, which, on internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid models, receives 14 vertical louvres.
Inside, the new 5-series comes with a fully vegan interior as standard. This includes the seat upholstery, the dashboard and the door panels, as well as the steering wheel. Buyers can specify Merino leather upholstery for the seats as an option.
The steering wheel has been redesigned with simplified multi-function controls, as has the centre console, which houses a sliding gear selector and BMW’s rotary iDrive controller.
Among the options are BMW’s interaction bar that extends across the dashboard into the door panels and features touch-sensitive controls for various functions and a fixed panoramic glass roof for the first time.
Under its skin, the new BMW retains a double-wishbone and multi-link suspension, with either steel or air springs and single-stroke or dual-stroke dampers, depending on the model.
As with all previous generations, the new 5 Series and i5 for the UK will be produced at BMW’s Dingolfing plant in Germany – the same site that produces the electric motors and battery for other electric-powered BMW models.
Source: Autocar
