8th Gen BMW 5 Series unveiled; The G60 now comes with normal grille

BMW has finally taken the wraps off the next-generation 5 Series. Internally dubbed as the G60, this time around the car also comes with an all-electric line-up under the i5 name.

Exteriors of the new BMW 5 Series

Visually, we can notice that BMW has not strayed much far from the design of the existing 5 Series. The G60 has received a much subtle design when compared with the larger 7 Series. There is no in your face grille or large headlamps. Instead the design language is unmistakably a 5 Series. There are some modern touches like flush door handles, revised bumpers with blackout portions along with slim design tail lights.

Dimension wise as well, the new 5 Series is now 3.4 inches longer, 1.3 inch wider and 1.4 inch taller than the outgoing car. The German carmaker has also increased the wheelbase by 0.78 inches leading to improved rear leg space. Further, the company claims a low drag coefficient of 0.23.

What’s new on the inside?

Coming to the insides, the new 5 Series gets BMW’s signature twin-display cockpit. The same is already offered in the new 3 Series, 7 Series and the M2 to name a few. The sedan gets the latest iDrive 8.5 system with a 12.3-inch driver’s display and 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment.

Owners will be able to spec their new 5 Series with a ton of options. BMW is offering multiple interior trim options with different colors and finishes. Another noteworthy fact is that all the interior is 100% vegan. This makes the 8th Gen 5 Series the first BMW to achieve this feat.

Powertrain details of the 8th Gen 5 Series

Apart from the regular petrol versions, the new 5 Series will also come with electric Powertrain options.

The all-electric i5 will come with eDrive40 and M60 xDrive options. While the former belts out 335 HP / 317 lb-ft. via a rear axle motor, the latter gets an additional 257 HP motor on the front axles and total torque of 549 lb-ft. The 0-60 mph mark is said to come up in just 3.7 seconds using a boost function that raises the torque to 605 lb-ft. for a short while.

The ICE models meanwhile will get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 3.0-liter six-cylinder options. These engines are rated at 255 HP / 295 lb-ft and 375 HP / 385 lb-ft. respectfully. The inline-six comes with an all-wheel drive configuration as standard which gives it a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds.

BMW is also offering standard rear axle air springs on the all-electric 5 Series which have auto load leveling and adjustable stiffness. Customers can also opt for the optional Active Roll Stabilization on the i5 M60 xDrive for further control on the handling and/or ride.

Both electric models are compatible with 205 kW fast charging. This means a 10-80 percent charge will take around 30 minutes. Further, during this charging, users will be able to play video games on the infotainment screen using a phone as the controller.

Launch and Delivery Timelines of the G60 5 Series

BMW has told the media that a global roll-out is expected around October 2023. Meanwhile, the inline-six’s production is expected to start only by November 2023. For the American market, a plug-in variant of the 5 Series will arrive in 2024 followed by an M5 sometime later.