BMW has announced that in a few months’ time the eighth generation of the BMW 5 Series saloon will make its debut and best of all it will be available as a zero emissions electric vehicle (EV). The German carmaker says the new model is more dynamic and more comfortable than ever and boasts a fresh interpretation of its signature elegantly sporting design.
The new 5 Series model will feature BMW’s Operating System 8.5 with BMW Curved Display, innovative digital services and, for the first time, a purely electric drive system in the guise of the BMW i5. It will also be available in other fuel variants including a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
At the BMW Group Annual Conference 2023, Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, announced further details of the new BMW 5 Series model range, indicating that the 5 Series would also be made available as an all-electric BMW M Performance model.
Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management at BMW AG, said: “The all-electric BMW i4 M50 shows how BMW blends dynamic performance and electric mobility to perfection.
“It was the best-selling BMW M model worldwide in 2022. A fully electric performance version from BMW M GmbH will also be included in the new BMW 5 Series Sedan (saloon) line-up.”
Zipse also revealed that a new variant would also be added to the familiar choice of engines for the new BMW 5 Series Touring estate model. I am excited to see this one as a big fan of estate cars over SUVs. It’s good to see more coming and a wide choice of estate cars in the electric vehicle space with so few currently available.
Zipse said: “The BMW 5 Series Touring is very popular, particularly in Europe. From spring 2024 it will also come in an all-electric version, giving us a truly unique selling point in this segment.”
The arrival of the BMW i5 saloon in the premium executive segment, followed by the BMW i5 Touring in 2024, will see the BMW Group continue the systematic expansion of its all-electric offering.
The BMW Group already has all-electric cars and two-wheelers in the vast majority of the market segments it serves with the BMW, BMW Motorrad, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands.
Earlier in the year, BMW announced it was stepping up production of electric vehicles with €800 million investment in its Mexican production site. With this and the demand for EVs the company’s aim of 50 per cent of worldwide sales of fully electric vehicles could be reached earlier than 2030.
The worldwide launch of the new BMW 5 Series models will get underway in October 2023.
