EV versions of next-gen BMW 5 Series sedan and wagon locked in, along with mild hybrids and PHEVs
BMW has released its first teaser of the all-new eighth-generation BMW 5 Series and confirmed it will debut in October ahead of launching early next year.
As well as confirming the 2024 BMW 5 Series sedan and Touring wagon would be available with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric powertrain options, the German car-maker confirmed there will also be a fast full-electric M Performance version for the first time.
From the teaser image of the all-electric 2024 BMW i5 sedan lurking under a cover, we can tell the new 5 Series will keep its traditional three-box silhouette, come with boxier styling and gain a fresh light signature for its daylight running lamps.
Speaking at the BMW Group Annual Conference 2023, chairman Oliver Zipse confirmed that the success of the BMW i4 M50 – BMW M’s best-selling model last year – meant an M Performance version of the 5 Series would follow.
Zipse also said that the continued popularity of the 5 Series Touring ensures that an all-electric version of the wagon will be available at the European launch in the second quarter of 2024.
There is no word yet on the replacement for the flagship BMW M5, but the safe money is it will live on as a PHEV with a development of the mighty 550kW/1000Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo plug-in hybrid powertrain used in the incoming BMW XM Label Red.
Diesel engines will continue, and as per the petrol combustion engines will gain 48-volt mild-hybrid technology.
The future of BMW’s trademark inline six-cylinder powertrains is still to be confirmed.
Interior-wise, the 5 Series will feature the car-maker’s curved display that runs a Linux-based BMW Operating System 8.5, but shortly after launch this will be swapped out for its next-gen Android-powered operating system 9.0.
The new model will be produced alongside the 7 Series, 8 Series and iX SUV at the Dingolfing plant in Germany, where the company has built 10 million examples of the 5 Series since the first of eight generations was introduced back in 1972.
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Keyword: New 2024 BMW 5 Series to get hot electric M models