5 Series Sedan

Make
BMW
Segment
Sedan

BMW recently revealed the new 7 Series and used to opportunity to simultaneously launch its first electric version of the car, the i7, built on the same platform with identical styling. It seems that the automaker will be doing something similar with the new 5 Series and its i5 sibling. Over the past few months, we've been seeing spy shots of both the cars as they are developed side by side, and feel pretty confident that the two offerings will arrive with the same high-tech, iDrive 8-based interior. That's all good and well, but some BMW fans have been worried about the front end of the 5 and have voiced their concerns that a split headlight design might migrate from the 7. There has been nothing to suggest this, but now we have confirmation of a relatively traditional fascia thanks to new spy shots.

The car in the images is the i5 as evidenced by 'Electric Test Vehicle' decals on the body, but these design cues will surely carry over to the regular 5 Series almost unchanged. That means both cars will come with the headlight housings you see here, featuring a slim design. The kidney grilles will also remain relatively well-proportioned, but there's not much else we can discern here as BMW is remaining very secretive about its new products. Nevertheless, it seems that the traditional 'sharknose' forward slant of the front end will reappear. This design cue calls to mind the E34 5 Series, albeit in a very subtle way.

The i5 is expected to launch in three variants: eDrive40, xDrive40, and i5 M50. The entry-level model will power the rear axle exclusively while the xDrive model will produce the same sort of power (which we expect to be, at minimum, 355 horsepower). The range-topper is the i5 M50 which is likely to arrive with dual electric motors. The i4 M50 produces 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque, so again, it's safe to assume at least those figures in the electric 5 Series. We'll have to wait some time before we can confirm any of this though, as a debut is only expected in 2023 as a 2024 model.