BMW Australia has confirmed prices and lineup details for the new ‘G60’ 2024 5 Series, which is being offered in fully electric i5 form for the first time.
Three main variants are being presented in Australia, spanning from the 520i, i5 eDrive40 and flagship i5 M60 eDrive. In other words, there is only one petrol option, with the 520i. It features a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder, running mild-hybrid 48V tech, producing 153kW and 330Nm. It covers 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.5 seconds.
Kicking off the electric range, the i5 eDrive40 uses an 84kWh battery to supply power to a rear-mounted electric motor. It develops 250kW and 430Nm, and can scoot off from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.0 seconds. It also offers a range of 582km.
If it’s speed and performance you want, then the i5 M60 is sure to fit the bill. It uses the same battery as above but it powers two electric motors for all-wheel drive. The system generates a mega 442kW and 820Nm, with 0-100km/h coming up in 3.8 seconds – these are M5-like figures. The range is listed at 516km.
As standard, the 2024 5 Series comes with the M Sport package with 19-inch alloy wheels, M Sport suspension, a panoramic glass roof, carbon fibre interior trimmings, wireless phone charging, a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system, and BMW’s 8.5 operating system with a 14.9-inch curved display screen and 12.3-inch cluster display.
In the electric i5 variants customers can recharge at up to 22kW using AC power, or up to 205kW using a DC fast charger. There’s also a special driving mode called Max Range that users can select, optimising the range to add up to 25 per cent via power limiting and the deactivation of energy-using comfort functions, if needed.
Customers can also treat themselves with a number of option packages, including the Comfort Package that adds roller sun blinds, heated steering wheel, and four-zone climate (standard on M60), or opt for the Enhancement Package that adds 21-inch wheels and a proper high-end Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
The new model is due to arrive in Australia “later this year”, the local arm says. Production takes place at BMW’s Dingolfing factory in Germany. Prices start from the following (excluding on-road costs):
2024 BMW 520i: $114,900
2024 BMW i5 eDrive40: $155,900
2024 BMW i5 M60: $215,900