Set to launch in Malaysia soon is the all-new version of the BMW 5 Series which now comes with a fully electric version, the BMW i5. If you didn’t know yet, the variants that have been confirmed for Malaysia are the BMW i5 eDrive 40 and the BMW i5 M60 xDrive. And before the i5 reaches our shores, we’ve had the opportunity to sample it in Portugal – stay tuned for our video on that.
The BMW 5 Series in Malaysia is currently in the G30 generation and will be replaced by the G60 BMW 5 Series/i5. It is the first generation of the 5 Series to feature an all-electric drivetrain option. The electric drive isn’t the only option as BMW has designed the G60 5 Series to cater to various powertrains – ICE, MHEV, PHEV, and BEV.
Without further due, let’s address the BMW i5 variants that will soon be launched in Malaysia. First up is the ‘standard’ BMW i5 eDrive40. It represents the entire lineup of the new 5 Series generation already – the new 5er is slightly larger in just about every dimension – length, width, height, and wheelbase.
The unit we sampled in Portugal came equipped with the M Sport kit and as such it featured M Sport bumpers, 21-inch wheels, M Sport badges, and black trims all around. The kidney grille is illuminated and this is referred to as the “Iconic Glow”. The door handles are flush, and compared to the G30, the G60 has a much cleaner overall design – less dramatic in some ways but more dramatic in other areas.
As for performance, the i5 eDrive40 is a rear-wheel drive (RWD) electric car with a single electric motor that makes 313 hp and 340 Nm when in Sport Mode and with “Boost” engaged. This results in a 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time and a top speed of 193 km/h.
As for battery and charging, the BMW i5 eDrive40 comes with an 81.2 kWh battery pack that provides up to 582 km of range on the WLTP test cycle. Charging can be done at a maximum rate of 22 kW with AC charging and 205 kW with DC charging. The former takes 4.25 hours to charge from flat to full while the latter takes 30 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%. 22 kW AC charging is certainly an attractive feature that will enhance your home charging experience.
Inside, the Malaysia-bound BMW i5 eDrive40 comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch head unit. The head unit runs on the BMW Operating System 8.5 and supports both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Like the all-new BMW 7 Series, the all-new 5 Series and the i5 also come with an interaction bar, albeit a lighter version of it. You can control some functions for the air-conditioning here as well as some exterior light functions. Most functions have been placed in the head unit.
Speaking of the head unit, it also now comes with more apps, the most interesting one being ‘Bundesliga’ where you can watch live football matches.
Other amenities include the double wireless mobile phone charger, cupholders on the centre console, the physical control for the head unit, and an armrest storage box. Mind you, the i5 eDrive40 shown in the images comes with the M Sport kit, so some equipment is part of that package.
With the all-new BMW 5 Series and i5 designed to be a “flexible powertrain” vehicle, some ICE features can be seen such as the centre tunnel in the cabin. One interesting thing that BMW has done is that the PHEV version of the 5 Series now shares the same boot capacity as the ICE 5 Series at 520 litres. Boot space for the i5 is listed at 490 litres.
Obviously, with BMW i5 M60 xDrive, you get more performance and that is thanks to the additional electric motor for the front axles. The rear motor is identical to the one you find in the eDriv40. Two motors equal all-wheel drive (AWD) and this results in a maximum power output of 601 hp and a maximum torque of 820 Nm. The i5 M60 xDrive does the century sprint in 3.8 seconds, onward to a top speed of 230 km/h.
It houses the same 81.2 kWh battery as the eDrive40 so the range is a little lower at 516 km (WLTP). Charging speeds are also identical at 22 kW AC charging and 205 kW DC charging.
On the outside, the i5 M60 spruces things up with an exclusive grille, M Sport side mirrors, a rear diffuser, and a trunk lid spoiler. It can be quite hard to differentiate it from an i5 eDrive40 that has been kitted with the M Sport package. Inside, the i5 M60 gets sportier seats, red and blue stitching on the steering wheel and upholstery, and a centre marker on the steering wheel.
In the safety department, one huge innovation that the BMW 5 Series/i5 introduces is the Highway Assistant Professional package which lets you change lanes by simply looking into the side mirror when the Adaptive Cruise Control is engaged. The system has been approved in several countries and we have yet to confirm if the Malaysian-spec i5/5 Series will be getting it.
Time is running out for the electric vehicle tax exemption, and we are seeing many new EVs entering the Malaysian market. Are you excited about the BMW i5 bound for Malaysia?
GALLERY
BMW i5 eDrive40
BMW i5 M60 xDrive
