BMW showed two versions of the new “five” at once (48 photos)
Less than a few weeks after the debut of Mercedes-Benz E-class as BMW has declassified its main competitor. "Five" the eighth generation retained the familiar concept, but changed almost everything: from the exterior and interior architecture to the engine range and finishing materials. In addition, the 5th series for the first time had electric version with index I5. It is a battery sedan, at least for at first, will play the role of the most powerful modification. On sale the novelty will appear in October, but the release of the family to the market will be stretched for about six months. 
The car is based on the same platform with a traditional a set of suspensions: from standard to adaptive and sporty. However the company claims that the body of the "five" has become noticeably stiffer, and chassis settings were selected taking into account the specifics of power aggregates. As before, active stabilizers controlled by rear wheels and M-brakes.
Did not bring a change of generations and radical changes in appearance, as happened with the "seven". BMW stylists noted that tried on a more compact sedan and two-story optics, and huge "nostrils", but decided to abandon this idea for the sake of a conservative configured audience part of the family. However, the eighth generation The 5-series received both new body contours and a more massive grille radiator, and original bumpers of strange shapes. "Five" slightly grew both in length and height. The latter is due the need to integrate battery cells into the bottom.
In the cabin there was a beveled steering wheel, a redesigned central tunnel and the digital cockpit, which has already become traditional for new BMWs, with 12.3-inch instrument panel and 14.9-inch media screen. The system itself now runs on the latest version of the iDrive 8.5 operating system, whose main achievement is a simplified interface. Number of physical buttons in the cabin has been reduced in favor of touch panels and a variety of sliders.
Among the interesting innovations is a set of casual games, pre-installed on the media system, the gamepads for which will be passengers' smartphones, and vegan interior trim from synthetic materials. In the basic configuration, the BMW 5 Series will receive sports seats. For comfortable chairs and leather trim will have pay extra.
At the start of sales in Europe, the “five” will receive only basic versions of 2-liter fours. Petrol thanks to a starter-generator develops 208 liters. With. and 330 Nm, diesel - 197 liters. With. and 400 Nm. Both motors aggregated with an 8-speed automatic, but only diesel is available four-wheel drive. The US will have more powerful engines - boosted to 258 l. With. 4-cylinder and six for 381 liters. With. In the spring of 2024 on the market 6-cylinder diesel and full-fledged plug-in hybrids will appear up to 489 hp With.
Those who want to get a charged "five" will have to choose electric motors. Such power plants from the very beginning will offer two: with one and two engines. The base version will be 340-horsepower and can accelerate to 100 km/ h in 6 seconds, the power reserve is about 497 km. Will head the BMW i5 M60 xDrive family with two motors, capable of developing up to 601 hp. With. and 820 Nm and accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. The range of such a sedan will logically be less - about 455 kilometers.
Together with the "five" debuts one of the most advanced versions of the Bavarian complex of driving assistants. On some highways in the US and Germany, he will allow the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel, and it will be possible not to confirm the command for automatic rebuilding only by turning on the turn signal, but also by simply looking at the corresponding mirror. The upgraded valet parking attendant will be able to memorize maneuvers on distances up to 200 meters.
The current premiere is only the first stage in the formation of the family. Over time, a station wagon variant will appear in the range, which will also will be produced with electric motors, extended modification for Chinese market and possibly a new generation of the traditional BMW M5. But in in the latter case, the company is likely to abandon the usual motors in in favor of hybrid installations modeled on the flagship XM crossover. 
BMW 530e PHEV 
BMW i5 M60 xDrive 
