On January 25, the BMW i5 was officially unveiled on the market, with a total of five models and a price range of 439,900-639,900 yuan. As the electric version of the BMW 5 Series family, the i5 carries the brand's new concept and has become BMW's flagship towards the intelligent electric era. Car buyers can enjoy additional benefits, including up to 18,000 yuan in purchase tax and insurance support for BMW i5 owners.
The exterior design of the BMW i5 is similar to that of the 5 Series petrol version, but it has been differentiated in details to highlight its pure electric identity. Available in both a Sport Package and a Deluxe Package, the former is vibrant, and the latter is more prestigious. The body size is 5175/1900/1520mm, the wheelbase is 3105mm, the side profile has been newly designed, and the short and smooth fastback shape gives the vehicle a more sporty atmosphere.
In terms of details, the unique C-pillar illuminated digital logo of the domestic version not only adds a sense of technology, but also flashes according to the state of charge. At the rear, the design is clean, with horizontally elongated headlights and trim strips creating a horizontal visual effect for a youthful and sporty look.
The interior design of the BMW i5 borrows from the BMW 7 Series, and is further optimized and upgraded on this basis to create a luxurious and intelligent driving space. The 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster and 14.9-inch central display form an integrated floating curved screen design, and the built-in 8.5th generation BMW operating system provides rich intelligent interaction functions such as natural semantic recognition, body language and eye recognition. The wrap-around interactive light strip separates colors and displays different atmospheres and information in different areas, and the center console area uses touch buttons and crystal-cut iDrive control knobs to create a sense of luxury.
The power system adopts BMW's self-developed excitation synchronous motor, which is the only model in luxury car companies to use this motor. The motor's unique brush module exhibits long life and high efficiency and quietness, and has superior acceleration performance in medium and high speed ranges compared to permanent magnet synchronous motors. The domestically produced i5 is equipped with fifth-generation eDrive technology, with a maximum power of 210 kW, a maximum torque of 410 Nm, a battery capacity of 79.05 kWh, and a pure electric range of 536 km.
The i5 M60 model has a maximum power of 442 kW and a peak torque of 795 Nm, and the dual-motor all-wheel drive version accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, showing faster and quieter characteristics. In terms of charging, the maximum charging power under the BMW Supercharger station can reach 200kW, and the charging time of 10-80% is about 32 minutes, covering 17 cities in China.
The BMW i5 doesn't give up on driving pleasure, with an integrated braking system that shortens braking distances, a lateral dynamics management system that enhances cornering handling, and an electric power steering system that makes it even more fun. In terms of suspension, the double-wishbone double-ball joint front suspension and multi-link rear suspension take into account both handling flexibility and ride comfort.
In terms of intelligent driver assistance systems, the BMW i5 applies an attention monitoring system and a capacitive-sensing steering wheel with the concept of "safety first". In order to meet the needs of the Chinese market, the WeChat in-car version function is specially integrated, which is convenient for instant communication and receiving navigation information in the car. Although the rear entertainment system is not as rich as the 7 Series, the floating giant screen continues the design style of the 7 Series, integrating into the iQiyi platform and HUAWEI AppGallery to provide rich entertainment options.
The main competitors are the Mercedes-Benz EQE and NIO ET7. The EQE has a unique appearance and superior range, but the interior and intelligent interaction functions are slightly inferior to the BMW i5. The ET7 leads in terms of battery capacity and range, but is slightly inferior in terms of brand influence and luxury. Overall, the BMW i5, as a luxury medium and large pure electric sedan worth buying, not only continues the excellent genes of the 5 Series, but also introduces the latest electric and intelligent technologies to create a high-end, comfortable, intelligent and sporty driving space.
The price of the BMW i5 is relatively reasonable, the brand influence and driving pleasure are better, the configuration and functions are richer, and the charging and service system is also more perfect. The launch of the BMW i5 marks the brand's determination and strength in the new energy market, becoming a new benchmark for luxury medium and large electric sedans, and a new milestone for the BMW brand. If you are looking for a luxurious, intelligent and sporty electric sedan, the BMW i5 is undoubtedly the best choice for you.