BMW i5 India launch, price, BMW EV bookings open

Globally, the BMW i5 is available in two guises – eDrive 40 and M60 xDrive. The M60 xDrive gets an electric motor on each axle putting out a combined 601hp and 820Nm torque, helping the sedan sprint from 0-100kph in just 3.8 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 230kph. It gets BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system as standard as opposed to the rear-wheel drive configuration seen on the eDrive 40 variant with a single electric motor.

While the ICE-powered 5 Series will be available in long-wheelbase guise, the i5 will only be offered with the standard wheelbase.

The i5 comes equipped with an 81.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with the India-bound M60 xDrive variant getting a WLTP-certified range of up to 516km on a single charge. It gets a 11kW AC charger as standard, which can be increased to 22kW with an optional onboard charger. Moreover, the electric sedan also gets 205kW DC charging capability, with BMW claiming a 10-80 percent charge within 30 minutes.

BMW is yet to reveal the prices of the i5 M60 xDrive, and it will have no direct rivals upon launch. However, we expect it to command a significant premium over its ICE sibling and expect it to touch the Rs 1 crore mark. BMW says that deliveries will be done on a first-come-first-served basis starting May 2024.