BMW i5 Touring:
BMW is now showing its new 5 Series Touring – for the first time also as an electric car. The spacious family car will, by all accounts, be a Norwegian success that may make many people think of a station wagon as an alternative to an SUV.
33 years have passed since the first generation BMW 5 Series Touring debuted in 1991. Common to the five generations has been the combination of sportiness, comfort and practicality.
– The sixth generation follows up the legacy and at the same time writes a completely new chapter as the first electric station wagon with a BMW logo on the hood. And as early as this weekend, the Norwegian public can see the all-new BMW i5 Touring during the eCarExpo car exhibition at the Nova Center outside Oslo, says Marius Tegneby, communications director BMW Group Norway.
Sporty elegance
According to the manufacturer, the new i5 Touring is characterized by a distinctive design and the unmistakable BMW dynamic between sporty and comfort-oriented characteristics. They further promise generous space, modern functionality, acoustic comfort, high-quality materials and advanced digital services.
Compared to its predecessor, the newcomer has been stretched 97 mm in length, to 506 centimeters, the width has increased by 32 millimeters to 190 cm, and the height has increased by 36 millimeters to 151.5 cm. At the same time, the wheelbase has become 20 millimeters longer and measures 2995 millimeters. The luggage compartment capacity increases from 570 liters to 1,700 liters when the rear seat backs are folded down.
As on the sedan, the front is characterized by a modern interpretation of the double headlights, with almost vertically positioned LED elements that function as indicators and daytime running lights. The distinctive kidney grill can be supplied with contour lighting.
Seen from the side, it is the high shoulder line, the sharp lines and the gently sloping roofline with roof rails (standard) that define the design. The dynamic proportions flow into a powerful rear, where flat, sculptural taillights are a new interpretation of the typical L design. Also note that the side profile of the rear lights differs from the sedan.
Rear or four-wheel drive
The BMW i5 Touring will initially be launched in two variants, the BMW i5 eDrive40 Touring with rear-wheel drive and the BMW i5 M60 Touring with all-wheel drive.
The engines on the front and rear axles of the BMW i5 M60 Touring produce 192 kW/261 hp and 250 kW/340 hp respectively, with a total output of 380 kW/517 hp and 795 Nm of torque during normal driving.
If you choose Sport mode or use the M Sport Boost or M Launch Control functions, the performance increases to 442 kW/601 hp with 820 Nm of torque. The sprint to 100 km/h is then done in 3.9 seconds, while the top speed is reached at 230 km/h. Maximum trailer weight is 2000 kg.
The combined WLTP power consumption is stated at 18.3 to 20.8 kWh per 100 kilometers, depending on the car’s configuration and equipment. It provides a range of up to 506 km (WLTP, mixed driving: 445-506 km).
The BMW i5 eDrive40 has what BMW defines as “standard operation” – or rear-wheel drive in good Norwegian. The electric motor on the rear axle lasts up to 250 kW/340 hp, with a maximum torque of 430 Nm when the Sport Boost or Launch Control function is activated. It takes you to a hundred in 6.1 seconds while the top speed is reached at 193 km/h. Permitted trailer weight for this is 1500 kg.
The combined WLTP power consumption of the BMW i5 eDrive40 Touring is 16.5-19.3 kWt, depending on the car’s configuration and equipment. It provides a range of up to 560 km (WLTP, mixed driving: 483-560 km).
Later this year, a further model with electric xDrive four-wheel drive will be launched. They have recently launched the i5 xDrive 40i sedan version, with a total output of 394 horsepower.
Plug&Charge
The new i5 Touring models have a MAX RANGE function where, if necessary, the range can be increased by up to 25 percent by limiting power and speed and deactivating selected comfort functions. The cloud-based navigation system will also be an effective tool for optimal utilization of the potential range.
Both model variants are equipped with a high-voltage battery with a net capacity of 81.2 kW. The BMW i5 eDrive40 Touring has an AC charging power of up to 11 kW as standard, a 22 kW on-board charger is offered as an option. The BMW i5 M60 Touring has a 22 kW on-board charger as standard.
When charging at 11 kW (16A/230V, 3-phase), the battery is charged from 0 to 100 percent in 8.25 hours. At 22 kW (32A/230V, 3-phase), the time is halved.
For DC fast charging, the output extends to up to 205 kW. This means that under favorable conditions you will be able to charge the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in around half an hour. It also means that the range can be increased by up to 149 km (eDrive40 Touring) and 142 km (M60 Touring) during a ten-minute charging stop at optimal SOC.
The optimized charge curve, with a smoother drop as the charge level increases, and use of excess heat from the electric motors to control the temperature in the high-voltage battery, both reduces the energy required to temper (preheat) the battery before fast charging and shortens the charging session. Tempering of the high-voltage battery can be controlled both automatically and manually.
The BMW i5 Touring is also among the first electric models to use Plug&Charge technology with the option of collecting several charging agreements. All the customer needs to do is connect the charging cable to the charging port on the car – and the necessary data will automatically flow via the charging cable so that the car authenticates itself.
Launching in May – sneak preview this weekend
The BMW i5 Touring will be launched in May, but already at the weekend the car can be experienced at the eCarExpo at the Nova Center in Lillestrøm.
New variants and updates
– The brand new BMW i5 Touring will be a highlight at our stand at eCarExpo this weekend. There it will be joined by the all-new BMW iX2, BMW iX1, BMW iX and BMW i7. The latter with the BMW Theater Scene for a full cinema experience in the back seat, says Tegneby.
Norwegian dealers open for orders already today. The BMW i5 eDrive40 Touring has a starting price of NOK 705,200, while the top model BMW i5 M60 Touring costs from NOK 1,099,700. Both models are offered with a selection of equipment packages. Customers can also choose the very well-equipped “Fully Charged” models at NOK 859,900 (i5 eDrive40 Touring) and NOK 1,159,900 (i5 M60 Touring), respectively.
For electric car skeptics, the 5 Series Touring will also be available with selected fossil powertrains during the year.
Norwegian postcards out into the world
When the BMW i5 Touring rolls into the exhibition hall for the eCarExpo, it is still not the first time it gets Norwegian soil under its wheels. Just before Christmas, another copy was on a secret visit to Norway. In fact, the official press photos were taken among Norwegian mountains and sea.
– It is easy to think that car photography is something you do relatively quickly, but there is a lot of work behind it, both for planning and execution, when such a project is to be done in secret. On behalf of the BMW Group, we would therefore like to extend a big thank you to Stadtlandet, which showed its best side – and not least Stad Hotell, Vestkapp Restaurant, Stad Kystbygg and several private individuals. Without the local enthusiasm and help, this project would not have been possible, concludes Tegneby.
