BMW i5 Teased Ahead of Oct Debut – ROI Already Opened by BMW Malaysia

BMW has officially confirmed that the next-gen 5 Series will feature an all-new all-electric model, dubbed as the BMW i5. This electrified D-segment vehicle is poised to feature in both saloon and estate body types, with BMW Malaysia already opening an inquiry for prospective buyers in the country.

Codenamed G60, the next-gen BMW 5 Series will feature a full-swing of powertrain options, with both the petrol and diesel ICE models poised for a 48 V mild hybrid adoption. Aside from the all-electric battery EV (BEV) version, there’s also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant, possibly powered by a petrol mill.

The Bavarian marque said the global launch of the new 5 Series is scheduled to commence by Oct this year, which includes the sedan version of the i5, followed by the i5 Touring for the European markets. Interestingly, there’ll also be a new 5 Series M model that features an electric powertrain.

BMW chairman Oliver Zipse said the decision to introduce an all-electric M performance variant for the new 5 Series is due to the raving success of its smaller downsegment sibling, the BMW i4 M50.

“The all-electric BMW i4 M50 shows how BMW blends dynamic performance and electric mobility to perfection. It was the best-selling BMW M model worldwide in 2022. A fully electric Performance model from BMW M GmbH will also be included in the new BMW 5 Series Sedan lineup,” said the BMW exec.

Little has been unveiled by BMW on the next-gen 5 Series design, as well as the powertrain specification for the electric i5 model. For references, the Malaysian-spec BMW i4 eDrive40 is powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor that delivers up to 335 HP and 430 NM. The i4 is juiced by a 83.9-kWh battery pack that grants it a maximum travel range of 590 KM.

Meanwhile, its M-badged twin, the i4 M50, boasts a dual-motor setup that outputs 537 HP and 795 NM to boot – enough to propel it from nought to 100 KM/H in only 3.9 seconds. Powering this dual-motor setup is the same 83.9-kWh battery pack as the i4 that provides less maximum travel range of 510 KM.

BMW 530e M Sport (left) and BMW M5 Competition (right)

For the Malaysian market, it is somewhat expected that BMW Malaysia will feature all said variants of the next-gen 5 Series except for the diesel variant – which is rather unpopular among the locals. For context, the current-gen BMW 5 Series line-up offered by BMW Malaysia consists of the 530i M Sport petrol model, the 530e M Sport PHEV model, as well as the performance-oriented M5.

The upcoming BMW i5 is poised to expand BMW Malaysia’s all-electric offerings, which currently comprises of the iX3 and iX EV crossovers, as well as the saloon duo of the i4 and i7.