The BMW 5 Series Sedan has come a long way since its debut in 1972, and now, as we approach the fall of 2023, the highly anticipated eighth generation of this successful business sedan is almost here. This time, BMW has taken things a step further by launching the new model as a fully electric car under the name of BMW i5.
As the countdown to the premiere of the BMW i5 Sedan continues, the automaker has released some exciting details about the camouflaged prototypes that have been on tour for the past year. The prototypes have covered thousands of kilometers on various roads and surfaces, including in Denmark and on ice and snow in the Nordics. The focus has been on optimizing the driveline and undercarriage, as well as the thermal management of the high-voltage battery in wintry environments.
The BMW Group's test center in Arjeplog in northern Sweden has also played a crucial role in testing and fine-tuning the new models. Last year, several camouflaged prototypes with extra mounted plastic on the body and provisional front and rear lights were driven for five days from the foot of the Alps in Bavaria to Lapland in Sweden. The approximately 3,000 kilometers on country roads and motorways provided useful experience for optimizing charging over long distances.
While BMW has not yet revealed all the details about the BMW i5 Sedan, they have announced that there will be a model with the letter M in the designation and a BMW i5 Touring set to hit the roads next year.