The G60 5 Series is set to continue BMW’s tradition of great upper-middle manager saloons with a modern twist.
October 2023 is when the latest generation BMW 5 Series sedan will be market-launched, and we expect it to make its way to Singapore some time in 2024. With this latest generation, code name G60, BMW would like to emphasize its electric vehicle (EV) 5 Series, named i5.
From launch, there will be two variants, namely the i5 eDrive40 and the top-spec EV i5 M60 xDrive. The former features a single motor driving the rear wheels only, while the hotter latter has two motors driving both front and rear wheels.
i5 eDrive40 
i5 M60 xDrive
With up to 340hp and 430Nm of torque for the i5 eDrive40 and up to 601hp and 820Nm of torque for the i5 M60 xDrive, the 0-100km/h sprint is seen off in 6.0- and 3.8-seconds respectively.
Both i5 variants feature DC fast-charging at up to 205kW and can charge their battery packs from 10%-80% in 30 minutes. Range is said to be between 497-582 km for the i5 eDrive40 and 455-516 km for the i5 M60 xDrive.
i5 eDrive40 
i5 eDrive40 
i5 M60 xDrive
For those who prefer to continue with internal combustion for a while longer in Singapore, there will also be a 48-volt mild-hybrid version of the 5 Series called the 520i, with a two-litre inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine putting 190hp and 310Nm of torque to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Other markets will receive a diesel-variant of the 5 Series in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions.
No word yet on whether there’ll be a tarmac-busting hotted-up G60 M5, but if it happens, we expect it to have a downsized engine mated to a hybrid system. This may not necessarily be a bad thing if it can improve fuel economy and still thrill like the outgoing M5 does.
Compared to the outgoing 5 Series, the G60 grows by 97mm in length to 5,060mm, a number that was once reserved for luxury limousines like the 7 Series. Wheelbase increases by 20mm to 2,995mm which means more legroom inside.
The inside of the G60 5 Series sees a 12.3-inch information display and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen, both of which curve in a driver-centric and ergonomic manner. Gone, however, are physical buttons and knobs for climate control, being replaced by touchscreen controls on the larger infotainment screen.
One (or two) people can connect to the updated iDrive 8 system with their smartphone(s) and play video games, presumably while waiting for their i5 to charge its battery pack at a public DC fast charger.
In a first for BMW, the interior is trimmed in full vegan spec called Veganza, including the seat surfaces, dashboard, door panels and steering wheel. BMW’s Individual Merino leather in several bi-colour variants is also optionally available.
We’ll bring you more when the new 5 Series comes to town. Stay tuned.
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