A veritable car feast
Have you ever seen the film Ronin? Superb acting and plot aside, the highlights for me are the raw car chase scenes, one of which features a BMW M5 E34’s daring getaway through crowded Parisian streets.
It’s a great film and if it was re-made, I’d wager the BMW used would be the i5 M60 xDrive, BMW’s new all electric 5-series. Ben Selby reports.
The i5, which makes it the 10th EV in BMW’s range, is the only 5-series available to buy in NZ. The i5 shares many styling cues we have seen on other BMW EVs like the iX and i4 but it’s the addition of M-Sport design tweaks that make it such an aggressive looking package. I love the subtle use of carbon, the kidney grill with LED surrounds and those 20-inch blacked out M-sport alloys with M embossed brake callipers.
Powering the i5 is a hefty 84kWh battery pack powering dual electric motors which drive all four wheels. The i5 M60 xDrive produces a hefty combined 442kW and 820Nm of torque. Compatible with chargers up to 205kW, the i5 will take anywhere from eight hours on an 11kW AC wall box charger, to 30 minutes on a fast charger. Equally impressive is the i5’s ability to travel more than 500km on a single charge.
Inside, it is such a techno-fest. The combo of a 14.9-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch BMW Live Cockpit instrument display shows a plethora of driving information which you can also access via the Swarovski crystal dial on the centre console.
A thumping Bowers and Wilkins sound system and even the ability to take selfies with your passengers are just the tip of the technological iceberg. The driving position is perfect and ergonomically, it’s very good too.
One feature I found rather addictive was the electric over boost function. Flick a paddle mounted behind that M-sport steering wheel and you get 10 seconds of extra instant torque which makes overtaking such a breeze. Accompanying this is a much louder Sci Fi-esque sound playing through the speakers to signify BMW’s Starship Enterprise has engaged Warp 9.
The i5 really goes like a starship too. While the steering may be a tad vague sometimes, the i5’s intergral active steering means you can change direction like a housefly. Dynamically, the i5 M60 really embraces the M aspect we have all come to love from BMW. Despite sporting a kerb weight of 2300kg, it doesn’t feel heavy, but rather spirited and lively. It’s a genuine hoot to drive, whether sedately or enthusiastically.
It’s unlikely the i5 will match BMW’s other i models in terms of volume locally and starting at $201,600, it’s certainly up there price wise, but this is a genuinely spell binding package with insane performance and dynamic prowess. If I were a baddie and needed a Ronin-style getaway, this would easily be on the shortlist.
FACT FILE: 2024 BMW i5 M60 XDRIVE
Price: $201,600
Power unit: 84kWh battery pack/dual electric motor
Power: 442kW
Torque: 860Nm
Range: 516km (WTLP)
o to 100km/h: 3.8 seconds
Kerb Weight: 2300kg
Wheels: 20-inch alloy
