New-gen BMW 5 Series & new i5 electric globally unveiled

Once on sale, the new BMW sedan will take on the recently unveiled Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Audi A6.

BMW has taken the wraps off the latest-generation 5 Series luxury sedan for the global markets. The new-gen 5 Series, now in its eighth-generation iteration, is offered with varied powertrain options, including internal combustion, hybrid, and for the first time, an all-electric version called the i5.

The new-gen BMW 5 Series comes with refreshed styling along with a host of new features and tech, inside and out. The sedan has also grown in dimensions and now measures 5,060 mm in length, 1,900 mm in width and 1,515 mm in height. It now has a 20 mm longer wheelbase of 2,995 mm.

Starting with the exteriors, the new-gen 5 Series gets a wider kidney grille up front, flanked by angular headlamps with twin boomerang-shaped DRLs, reminiscent of those on the new X1. The sedan features flush-fitting door handles, sleeker LED tail lights and a new front & rear bumper. The BMW i5 features a blanked-out front grille, along with blacked-out elements all around the side and rear of the car.

Inside, the cabin too, has been completely refreshed. The dashboard features a free-standing dual display, integrating a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. The new 5 Series gets BMW's latest iDrive 8.5 OS, adding a host of new features and tech, including in-car gaming; among a host of others.

The BMW 5 Series comes with multiple trim levels, depending on the market, starting from the 520i, 520d, 520d xDrive, 530i, 530e, 540i and 550e xDrive. Powertrain options range between 4 and 6-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. BMW also confirmed that plug-in hybrid versions of the new 5 Series will arrive next year.

The BMW i5 is offered in 2 variants: i5 eDrive40 and i5 M60 xDrive. Both come with an 81.2 kWh battery pack, enabling a WLTP range of 516-582 km on a single charge, depending on the variant. The i5 eDrive40 gets a single electric motor on the rear axle, producing 308 BHP & 400 Nm (335 BHP / 430 Nm with launch control engaged). The i5 M60 xDrive has dual electric motors producing 509 BHP and 795 Nm (593 / 820 Nm with launch control engaged). The top-spec M60 trim is said to be capable of sprinting from 0 - 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds while reaching a top speed of 230 km/h.

The new BMW 5 Series will go on sale in international markets in the coming months. Once on sale, the new BMW sedan will take on the recently unveiled Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Audi A6.