2021 was a year full of electric novelties for BMW: the Bavarian firm’s zero-emission lineup, consisting exclusively of the i3 until the launch of the iX3 in 2020, was enriched with the arrival of the ambitious i4 and iX, a midsize saloon and an Executive SUV called to compete against the Tesla Model 3 and Model X, among others.
However, the company will not rest on its laurels in 2022, as it plans to launch other proposals of great strategic importance such as the iX1 compact SUV, which will become its entry-level electric car, as well as the i7 representative saloon. the new electric flagship of the ‘i’ family.
With the arrival of the iX1, BMW will complete its offer of electric SUVs, as it will have a presence in the C (compact), D (family), and E (executive) segments. However, its lineup of sedans will still be incomplete, since between the i4 (segment D) and i7 (segment F) there will be a huge step to be covered.
The one in charge of filling this niche will be the i5, the electric version of the Series 5 G60. Scheduled for the year 2023, this sedan will face models such as the Audi A6 e-Tron, the Mercedes-Benz EQE, and the Tesla Model S, among others. Like its rival Audi, the BMW will be available with two bodies: a four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon (Touring).
The BMW i5 will be presented in 2023
Compared to the conventional model, the BMW i5 Touring will add a plus of practicality; in return, it will likely lose some autonomy due to aerodynamic and weight reasons. The differences concerning the Series 5 Touring will be the same as between the i5 and the 5 Series sedan: blind grille, specific bumpers, and wheels, diffuser …
The BMW i5 will be one of the company’s last electrics to use the CLAR modular platform, which in 2025 will be replaced by the new ‘Neue Klasse’ architecture, optimized to house 100% electric powertrains. Therefore, from a technical point of view, the newcomer will not differ too much from the i4 and i7.
Thus, the i5 is expected to have a battery pack of up to 100 kWh in its most capable version (the i4 stays at 80 kWh, while the i7 will reach 120 kWh), which should allow it to reach about 700 km WLTP autonomy. Its most performance variant is expected to wear the M insignia (Motorsport, BMW’s competition division) and exceed 700 hp of power, facing the Audi RS6 e-Tron, Mercedes-AMG EQE, and Tesla Model S Plaid.
