BMW India has launched the i5 in the country, priced at Rs 1.20 crore, ex-showroom, India. The i5 has been brought to India via the CBU route, and only in top-spec M60 xDrive form. The electric sedan slots between the i4 (Rs 72.5 lakh) and i7 (Rs 2.03 crore-2.5 crore) in BMW India’s line-up. With the launch of the i5, BMW has five EVs on sale in India, including the iX1, iX xDrive50, i4 and i7; the flagship electric sedan is also available in i7 M70 xDrive guise. Bookings for the i5 had opened on April 4.
BMW i5 range, battery, charging
In M60 xDrive spec, the BMW i5 gets an 83.9kWh (81.2kWh usable) battery pack that provides a WLTP range of 516km on a single charge. The battery drives two electric motors – one on each axle – that have a combined output of 601hp and 795Nm of torque. BMW claims a 0-100kph time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 230kph for this version of the i5. While BMW offers a complementary 11kW wall charger with the sedan, a 22kW AC charger is available as an optional extra. The brand claims that the EV gets 205kW DC charging capability, with a 10-80 percent charge taking under 30 minutes.
BMW i5 exterior, colour options
As mentioned above, the i5 for India is only available in M60 guise, which means it sports a number of sportier design changes over the standard i5. As such, EV that’s launched in India gets the same classic kidney grille with illumination and a blanked-off design (finished in high-gloss black plastic). Below the slim headlights that get two, vertically stacked LED DRLs in each unit, one can see the more agressive bumper with larger intakes. The sides sport flush-fitting door handles, and a side skirt along with new 20-inch alloy wheels shod in 245/40 R20 (front) and 275/35 R20 (rear) tyres. At the rear, the i5 adopts the new 7 Series‘ design with thin LED tail-lamps; each tail-lamp has a chrome separator between the two LED elements.
In India, BMW will offer the i5 in one non-metallic Alpine White finish. Metallic exterior paint shades include M Brooklyn Grey, M Carbon Black, Cape York Green, Phytonic Blue, Black Sapphire, Sophiosto Grey, Oxide Grey and Mineral White.
BMW i5 interior, features
The BMW i5 for India gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen – the latter runs BMW’s latest iDrive 8.5 OS and comes with gaming and video functions for the first time. It is operated via a familiar-looking physical controller on the centre console; in fact, the centre console, along with the 15-colour ambient lighting system, seems to be similar to the one seen in the i7.
Naturally, the M60 gets a number of M-specific changes such as carbon fibre trim on the dashboard (a dark silver accent with a wood trim is available as an optional extra), specific performance-based displays for the infotainment and instrument cluster and a flat-bottom M leather-wrapped steering wheel. As standard, the i5 gets sports seats finished in Venganza or Alcantara with an active cooling function, a dark roof lining, a Bowers & Wilkins audio system, a panoramic sunroof, 4-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera and more.
BMW India offers a 2-year/unlimited kilometre warranty as standard with the i5, but its battery has an 8-year/1.6 lakh km warranty.
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