MAS 2024: BMW Malaysia Debuts New G60 5 Series Variants

BMW Malaysia showcased quite a few new metal today at MAS 2024. Amongst them were the G60-gen i5 M60 xDrive and 520i, followed by the iX1 eDrive20 M Sport and iX2 xDrive30 M Sport.

Press Day of the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 is in full swing today at MAEPS, Serdang, and the opening launches of the day comes from BMW Malaysia. The firm saw new metal from all three of its  brands – BMW, BMW Motorrad and MINI – taking centre stage this morning.

We’ll start with the main BMW cars banner and the firm showed off new additions to the G60-generation 5 Series locally. Joining the i5 eDrive40 is the sportier i5 M60 xDrive, followed by the new 520i ICE-powered saloon. Shown alongside too was the new BMW iX2 xDrive30 M Sport and iX1 eDrive20 M Sport.

New i5 M60 xDrive brings sporty style and peppy dual-motor performance into the i5 range locally with its 601 HP and 795 NM outputs. 

The i5 M60 xDrive’s arrival was long expected given the stellar success of the smaller-sized i4 M50 that debuted during last year’s edition of the show. It now brings a dual-motor performance twist to the all-electric i5, boasting a whopping 601 HP and 795 NM, altogether enabling 0-100 KM/H in 3.8 seconds plus a claimed 230 KM/H V-max as well.

In typical fashion of M model, the i5 M60 xDrive also rides on 21-inch wheels, whilst its chassis gets Adaptive M Suspension Professional with Active Roll Stabilization and Active Roll Comfort. Altogether, these additions to the chassis promises equally high agility to match the high power outputs and speed delivered by this hotter Bavarian mid-sized EV saloon.

M Sport styling comes part of the package to match its performance substance, as are a slew of high-end tech.

Crucially, it also continues to harness a sizeable 83.9 kWh battery pack that promises up to 516 KM of WLTP range. Crucially, like most current BMW EVs, this version of the i5 is primed with an on-board charger (OBC) capable of drawing up 22 kW AC and up to 205 kW DC charging inputs.

As usual, the i5 M60 xDrive comes laced with plenty of BMW’s latest and greatest tech that improves daily convenience, driveability, and safety. Highlights include BMW’s latest curved display module powered by the latest BMW OS 8.5, BMW Digital Key Plus, as well as a full-swing of Active Driver Assistance (ADAS) from the BMW Driving Assistant Professional Package.

The new 520i is set to pick-up where its G30-gen 530i and 530e predecessors left off.

Sticking with the G60-gen 5 Series still and we also finally see the successor to the locally assembled (CKD) G30-gen 5 Series in the form of the new 520i. Also set for localisation (CKD), the new ICE-powered 5-er sees a more traditional 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol mild hybrid (MHEV) heart mounted up front powering the rear wheels with 208 HP and 330 NM.

Key equipment for the 520i includes 19-inch aerodynamic wheels, the BMW Curved Display module as well as the BMW Driving Assistant Plus basic ADAS package, all primed as standard kit.

Predictably, the 520i packs a slew of new tech from the BMW marque, along with a new 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol MHEV mill.

Following today’s debut, the new 5 Series variants command estimated prices of RM340,000 (520i) and RM480,000 (i5 M60 xDrive). Said prices are set to include BMW Malaysia’s usual comprehensive after-sales package, and an 8-year or 160,000 KM EV battery warranty for the i5 M60 xDrive is amongst which.

You can see both these new G60-gen 5 Series models, as well as the iX1 eDrive20 M Sport and new iX2 xDrive30 M Sport EV SUVs in the flesh this week at BMW Malaysia’s booth located in Hall A2 of the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 happening this week at MAEPS, Serdang.