A wagon model of BMW’s all-electric i5 has been confirmed for Australia, arriving within the third quarter of this yr.
The i5 M60 xDrive Touring lands with a chunky price ticket of $219,900 earlier than on-roads – $4000 greater than the all-wheel-drive twin motor sedan equal which arrived final yr.
The i5 vary opens at $155,900 for a single motor rear drive eDrive40 mannequin.
Highlighting BMW’s dedication to EVs, when the i5 M60 wagon arrives it’ll be the Bavarian model’s sixteenth absolutely electrical variant provided right here, throughout seven completely different mannequin sequence.
For Touring lovers and SUV rejectors, the big-bummed i5’s arrival reveals there’s life within the wagon format but. It’s a sensible factor too, this new era the primary 5 Sequence to measure over five-metres lengthy. At 5060mm, its size eclipses a Toyota LandCruiser 300.
Cargo house is 570L with 5 seats up, or 1700L with rear seats folded.
Different i5 Touring’s numbers are equally pleasing. Twin electrical motors develop 442kW/800Nm mixed (a lift button ups that to 820Nm), the 100km/h dash’s demolished in 3.9-seconds, and WLTP driving vary is a quoted 506km from the 84kWh battery.
Most DC charging’s 205kW, whereas Aussie prospects rating a five-year complimentary subscription to the Chargefox public charger community.
Beginning to justify that hefty price ticket, normal inclusions are mighty.
In an upmarket transfer, BMW says “inside design and luxury ranges are adopted from the flagship 7 Sequence.” The model’s confrontingly-visaged limo has a luxe-filled rock star of a cabin, so if the i5 has taken notes, homeowners are in for a pampering.
Visually, the i5’s one of many extra interesting from BMW’s line-up of presently contentious designs.
Its projecting grille options BMW’s Iconic Glow contour lightning (you received’t miss it at evening), whereas normal are 20-inch M alloys (21-inchers are no-cost choices), 12.3-inch data show, 14.9-inch digital show, Particular person Merino leather-based, Swarovski glass iDrive controller and kit selector rocker, panoramic glass roof and 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins encompass sound system.
Anticipate ample room to maneuver inside, the wheelbase now stretched to 2995mm to make this new gen 5 Sequence Touring longest in its class.
That mentioned, the i5 Touring’s platform is shared with combustion variations of BMW’s 5 Sequence, which means packaging’s compromised versus EV-only platforms. A Hyundai Ioniq 5’s wheelbase, for instance, bests the i5 Touring’s by 5mm.
The i5 Touring in flagship M60 xDrive guise will get rear-axle air suspension (with auto self-levelling), M Sport suspension, M Sport braking system, BMW’s Adaptive Chassis Skilled with electronically managed shock absorbers, Lively Roll Stabilisation and Consolation.
Ergo, it ought to trip fairly plush.
Tech heads can embrace 4 encompass view cameras, automated parking and manoeuvring as much as 200m (could be managed through smartphone), head-up show with augmented view, video streaming companies and AirConsole in-car gaming.
Regardless of costing round $230,000 on the street, BMW nonetheless asks additional if you need steering wheel heating and bum warming rear seats to your i5 Touring. At the very least normal metallic paint choices are all without charge.
With the i5 Touring’s arrival, may we see a welcome return of wagons in Australia?
Porsche’s Taycan Cross Turismo is a kinda wagon already offered right here, whereas Audi’s A6 Avant e-tron and VW’s ID.7 Tourer (wagon) are each anticipated to launch in 2024, though unconfirmed for Australia.
BMW’s personal wagon back-catalogue is chockers with excellence, from the family-friendly E30 3 Sequence Tourings of the Nineteen Eighties, to continent-crushing M5 wagons from the Nineties and 2000s. The present M3 Touring is arguably one of the best ‘M’ automobile on sale proper now.
For now, the flagship i5 M60 Touring would be the solely wagon grade obtainable when it arrives in Australia within the second half of the yr.
Hopefully response is powerful sufficient to lock in a less expensive single motor eDrive40 Touring variant (as they’re getting in Europe) to drop that $219,900 worth by round $60k.