First drive in the new BMW i5: Fast, agile and remote controlled: this is how the 340 hp electric car drives

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You won’t find powerful six-cylinder gasoline or diesel engines in the price list of the new generation of the BMW 5 Series. In addition to pure combustion engines, we have four-cylinder-only versions and plug-in hybrids that are purchased primarily by our cost-conscious fleet customers. If you want 340 hp (250 kW) like the previous model’s three-litre six-cylinder engine, you’ll have to get into the electric car and then drive only the base version.

The 5 Series design is a new beginning; nothing reminds us of the previous model. And since the business sedan accounts for the bulk of sales at BMW, they don’t want to allow visual excesses like the top-end 7 Series. Key word front grille: Reduced again to a respectable size. In the i5 eDrive40, the electric motor on the rear axle produces 340 hp (250 kW) power and a maximum torque of 430 Nm. Despite its weight of 2.2 tons, the sedan pushes itself even at highway speeds. This is surprising for a BMW in its performance class: speeds are already limited to 193 km/h, battery protection and electricity saving are now given more importance than life in the fast lane.

Hit the hooks like a little kid

But even well below that limit the i5 is a real showpiece: snug, comfortable, incredibly quiet and perfectly sprung and damped. Depending on the selected drive programme, it chooses between sporty, firm and extremely soft. But even the most sensitive chassis cannot hide one thing with powerful brakes: You can feel the weight during fast cornering and despite the low center of gravity; but many heavy electric vehicles put significantly more stress on the front wheels. But the real fun is the steering, which makes the i5 turn so fast you feel like you’re in a much smaller car.

Consumption depends on wheel/tyre combination and driving style. BMW promises 16.0 kilowatt hours (kWh) per 100 kilometers, but in quick test runs the base i5 still exceeds the 20 kWh mark. However, the small i5, with a net 81 kWh battery pack in the lower body, offers a range of up to 579 kilometers; this is much more than the more powerful all-wheel drive version with the same battery. With 205 kilowatts (kW) of charging power, the five-row car lags behind its competitors with 800-volt technology: charging from 10 to 80 percent with fast charging takes 30 minutes. Instead of high peak current for a short period of time, BMW relies on a longer portion of the charging cycle where peak charging power is used. If the battery level gets low, an emergency program called Max Range cuts the power and air conditioning, gaining an additional 25 percent range.

You can also control it remotely

The seating position, space and material quality of the 5.06-meter-long electric five-seater are convincing; We hope the shiny surfaces look this good after 100,000 kilometers. In the cockpit, BMW relies on the slightly curved 12.3- and 14.9-inch displays used since the iX. They may not be as big as the Asian competition, but they are very sharp and can still be operated without distraction using a rotary knob rather than using touch or voice. For an extra fee, there is not even a screen for the front passenger, but there is a highway assistant that allows the driver to place his hands on his lap at speeds up to 130 km/h.

Like the 7 Series, the i5 remembers a driving distance of up to 200 meters and steers itself. You can even activate the function from outside using the app; It is practical when there is a lot of garbage in the garage and there is no place to get it out. The new i5’s market launch is now in the autumn; Prices start from 85,200 francs.

Source: Blick