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Video: BMW i5
An all-new BMW 5 Series is coming, the all-electric i5 version perhaps the most interesting – here’s Alex Legouix to talk you round it
We’ve already had a look at BMW’s all-new 5 Series but here Alex Legouix gets up close and personal with the all-electric i5 version to explore some of its more interesting features, onboard gaming and the ability to snap selfies included!
We’ll get to that in due course but, for context, the i5 follows BMW’s recent form of launching distinct electric versions of its core luxury saloons under its dedicated i sub-brand. While these look superficially the same as their internal combustion and hybrid equivalents they also have some subtle tweaks to the styling and features to stand apart as something distinct, as seen already with the 4 Series based i4 and the i7, the latter based on the latest 7 Series. The arrival of the i5 completes the set, with BMW’s full saloon range now available in conventional and pure electric power as part of its twin-track approach to electrification. Features like gaming and selfie modes are clues BMW is feeling the heat from Tesla and its tech-aligned approach to cars. So, at a suitably powerful charger the i5 will top up its battery very quickly but if still find yourself plugged in with time to kill the AirConsole in-car gaming lets you and your passengers use smartphones as controllers for what is promised will be a growing portfolio of games across all genres.
We’ll get to that in due course but, for context, the i5 follows BMW’s recent form of launching distinct electric versions of its core luxury saloons under its dedicated i sub-brand. While these look superficially the same as their internal combustion and hybrid equivalents they also have some subtle tweaks to the styling and features to stand apart as something distinct, as seen already with the 4 Series based i4 and the i7, the latter based on the latest 7 Series. The arrival of the i5 completes the set, with BMW’s full saloon range now available in conventional and pure electric power as part of its twin-track approach to electrification. Features like gaming and selfie modes are clues BMW is feeling the heat from Tesla and its tech-aligned approach to cars. So, at a suitably powerful charger the i5 will top up its battery very quickly but if still find yourself plugged in with time to kill the AirConsole in-car gaming lets you and your passengers use smartphones as controllers for what is promised will be a growing portfolio of games across all genres.
Once playtime is over and there are places to get to the i5 promises to get you there quickly and in maximum comfort, the vegan interior on trend with increased focus on sustainable materials in cars while the big screens and BMW’s proven tech interface should make tuning into its various features straightforward.
For those raised on traditional rear-wheel drive BMW saloons the single-motor i5 eDriver40 will feel comfortingly familiar, the 340 horsepower plenty to be getting on with while the 361-mile official range looks very good indeed. In a hurry? You’ll be wanting the twin-motor M60 xDrive version instead, the 601 horsepower offering a dramatic boost in performance, albeit at the expense of a bit of range. After this first taste we can’t wait to have a drive, so watch this space. And, in the meantime, if you liked the video make sure you let us know, throw a comment into the chat below and subscribe for more great content like this!
For those raised on traditional rear-wheel drive BMW saloons the single-motor i5 eDriver40 will feel comfortingly familiar, the 340 horsepower plenty to be getting on with while the 361-mile official range looks very good indeed. In a hurry? You’ll be wanting the twin-motor M60 xDrive version instead, the 601 horsepower offering a dramatic boost in performance, albeit at the expense of a bit of range. After this first taste we can’t wait to have a drive, so watch this space. And, in the meantime, if you liked the video make sure you let us know, throw a comment into the chat below and subscribe for more great content like this!
