But does it look good?
The recently unveiled BMW i5 – that's the all-electric version of the 5 Series – has been photographed at the BMW Welt campus in Munich, and as is now characteristic for BMW, the results are somewhat polarizing. The images were shared on Instagram and show that carbon fiber is a well-used material and that BMW has not shied away from applying decals either. As is customary for M Performance parts reveals, the car is finished in Alpine White to better show the contrasting elements added.
But while the car's design may have Italian influence, adding M Performance parts does little to enhance the elegance of the executive sedan.
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At the front, darkened Shadow Line headlights and taillights add some menace, and the kidney grilles appear in gloss black. The front spoiler is made of carbon fiber, as are the wing mirrors and trunk spoiler, but the side skirts and the diffuser are not. Annoyingly, the latter element has cutouts on each end that appear to mimic those for exhaust tips – a pointless addition in a car that runs purely on electricity. Sure, this is the high-performance M60 variant, but that's no justification for the strange recesses.
Elsewhere, larger wheels and red brake calipers are complemented by decals along the shoulder line. We also see banner decals on the windshields, but we suspect these are only on this car for identification purposes.
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Inside, carbon fiber and a red 12 o'clock marker are evident, but you can also expect new pedals, mats, sill plates, and other enhancements.
Pricing and availability details have not yet been released, but with the cheapest 5 Series variant starting at just under $58,000 and the M60 variant you see here retailing for at least $84,100, we doubt BMW will be shy with pricing for these upgrades, especially since the market seems to be responding to controversial styling changes favorably.
While the styling is certainly not to everyone's taste, the way it drives should be more universally appealing. Maximum outputs are rated at 590 horsepower and 605 lb-ft of torque, and the handling of the electric sedan was refined with the help of professional drifters.
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Keyword: BMW i5 Looks Menacing With M Performance Parts