BMW is planning an electric version of the popular sedan - and wants to dare a completely new electric variant

Created: 02/18/2022, 15:42

By: Patrick Freiwah

Front end of the current 5 Series - the electric variant BMW i5 will appear next year.

© Photo booth / Fritsch / Imago

BMW wants to compete in the luxury class next year with a new E-model.

There should also be a variant with plenty of storage space.

Munich - Electrification at BMW* is progressing: With the i5, the next Stromer is being made ready for market launch - and now two distinctive features of the new model series are coming to light.

On the one hand, they concern the engines:

Compared to the slightly smaller mid-range BMW i4, there will be three drive variants instead of two: In addition to a BMW i5 eDrive40 and the sports version BMW i5 M50, there will also be a BMW i5 xDrive40 with two electric motors installed on the axles.

This all-wheel-drive configuration will enable higher performance in the electric version of the next 5-generation G60/G61.

In the medium term, the drive train could also find its way into the smaller mid-range i4,

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BMW i5: combi model could set electric car apart from the competition

As the portal explains, there is another feature that should please many brand fans, especially on the home market: the strategists in Munich are also planning a BMW i5 Touring.

Interestingly, this would mean a unique selling point compared to the worst competition, at least for the foreseeable future: because neither Audi with the A6 e-tron nor the Mercedes EQE are currently showing any signs that an electric combi car is planned.

And industry leader Tesla does not offer a station wagon version of the Model 3 and Model S sedans either.

However, fans still have to be patient until the i5 is launched: According to the current status, the electric innovation based on the current five-series will be launched in summer 2023.

In addition, the vehicle structure corresponds to the electric Gran Coupé i4, it is the module box of the CLAR platform (we reported*).

Visually, the BMW i5 should be a slightly larger version of the first electric sedan:

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BMW i5 as a sedan and touring with a range of over 600 kilometers?

One can speculate about further technical data.

Battery cell research is in full swing and further optimizations could take place within a year with regard to range.

A look at the slightly smaller BMW i4 shows: WLTP ranges of almost 600 kilometers without recharging do not seem unrealistic.

The performance data range from impressive to brutal: The i4 has either 340 or 544 hp (M version), and the top model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds.

BMW is facing a comprehensive restructuring of its portfolio.

By 2030, half of the model range should be electric.

What the Munich plans, which models are in the pipeline.