BMW has just revealed more details of the upcoming fully-electric BMW i5 and the all-new BMW 5 Series, coinciding really well with the debut of the W214 Mercedes-Benz E-Class today. The all-new BMW 5 series will be available in internal combustion engine (ICE), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and fully electric (EV) versions. The i5, which is the EV version of the 5 Series will be available as the M60 xDrive and the eDrive40 for now.
Still shown covered in camouflage for now, the BMW i5 is in its final testing phase and will be fully revealed in a few weeks from now. At this moment, BMW has revealed both its suspension technology as well as its safety technology.
As for the suspension, the BMW i5 M60 xDrive will come as standard with BMW’s Adaptive Suspension Professional Plus. It will be an optional item for the i5 eDrive 40 and will also be available on ICE and PHEV versions of the all-new BMW 5 Series. Depending on the variant, the Adaptive Suspension Professional Plus may either come as a standard or as an optional item.
The Adaptive Suspension Professional Plus is built with the 9th generation of BMW’s Vertical Dynamics Management system. BMW says that with its latest suspension technology, the all-new 5 series will be able to provide 7-Series levels of comfort and 3-Series levels of agility.
RELATED: BMW i5 teased in pre-production testing ‘spyshots’ – fully-electric 5 Series coming this year
Since the all-new BMW 5 series will be available with three powertrain types, there is a large variation in vehicle weight across the range. BMW says that with this in mind, they have conducted model-specific, case-by-case chassis tuning and corresponding application of all control systems to deliver the signature BMW driving pleasure, regardless of the drive concept involved.
Besides revealing the suspension technology, BMW has also revealed some details on the i5’s safety and automated driving systems. The 5 Series or the i5 can be equipped with BMW’s Highway Assistant which is part of the BMW Driving Assistant Professional Plus.
RELATED: BMW XM Label Red debuts as the most powerful M car – 748hp, 1000Nm, 0-100km/h in 3.8 secs
To ensure maximum attention is given by the driver, the all-new BMW 5 Series and i5 come with an interior camera that monitors driver alertness. An even more interesting feature is the eye-activated automated lane-changing system. This system can be prompted by looking into the side mirror (from the driver seat position) to initiate a lane change. This system works up to speeds of 130 km/h.
Teased in camouflage again for now, production of the all-new BMW 5 Series will begin in summer of 2023. Production will take place in BMW Group’s Dingolfing plant in Bavaria.
RELATED: BMW Digital Key Plus now available for Android smartphones, UWB extends user convenience
