Thailand together with the executive members joined the launch of the first-ever BMW i5 at Park Hyatt Bangkok.
(from left)
- Khun Krisda Utamote, Director Corporate Communications, BMW Group Thailand
- Mr. Galdric Donnezan, Sales and Dealer Network Development Director, BMW Thailand
- Mr. Alexander Baraka, President and CEO, BMW Group Thailand
- Khun Jariya Koonlinthip, Chief Executive Officer, BMW Financial Services Thailand
- Khun Preecha Ninatkiattikul, Director of Marketing, BMW Thailand
- Mr. Stefan Sloboda, Director Customer Support, BMW Group Thailand
Bangkok. BMW Thailand has unveiled the latest edition of the executive-class 5 Series Sedan with the all-electric BMW i5. Crafted with cutting-edge technologies, incredible driving dynamics, and refined styling, the new BMW i5 range is ready to offer a wide range of experiences – from sporty athleticism in the driving seat to the comfort of a second office in the rear seats. The newly launched 5 Series lineup is ready to revolutionise the business sedan segment
today with two thrilling models: the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport, which has been tailored to deliver satisfying electric mobility in everyday scenarios, and the BMW i5 M60 xDrive with its thrilling fusion of BMW M performance and BMW i innovation.
Mr. Alexander Baraka, President and CEO, BMW Group Thailand, said: “The BMW 5 Series has been a resounding success throughout half a century of its existence. With the First-ever BMW i5, the series is taking its first step into the all-electric era and is now ready to serve as the motoring counterpart of any leader who dares to drive change for a better tomorrow. We are proud to present the First-ever BMW i5 – the electric sporty business sedan that leads with executive presence – to all BMW enthusiasts today as a symbol of a new era – both for a legendary line of BMW vehicles and for the executive sedan segment as a whole. From sustainable, all-electric driving to an inspired time behind the wheel, the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport and BMW i5 M60 xDrive are ready to be a haven of peace and power between all your destinations – a place of joy that keeps you fully connected to the world beyond its confines.”
“As a continuation of BMW’s journey into the world of all-electric motoring, the BMW i5 reaffirms our focus on a more sustainable automotive future with significant reductions in CO2 emissions both on the road and throughout the production process. We are also continuing our commitment to enhancing customer experiences
with the introduction of Proactive Care service, which brings greater peace of mind to BMW owners with the advanced vehicle connectivity that allows our service advisor to remotely diagnose the vehicle from anywhere or activates an accident or emergency call in the event of unexpected situations,” added Mr. Baraka.
BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport
Price: 4,999,000 (VAT incl. with BSI Standard Package covering
4 years/unlimited mileage)*
BMW i5 M60 xDrive
Price: 5,599,000 (VAT incl. with BSI Standard Package covering
4 years/unlimited mileage)*
The BMW i5 brings the BMW 5 Series Sedan into the all-electric era with a thoroughly dynamic interpretation of the series’ ever-evolving combination of sporty thrills and executive elegance – bringing together the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology, a wealth of digital innovations, electric power and comfort to spare, and impressively athletic presence on the road.
At the front, the new BMW i5 leads with a fresh take on the iconic BMW kidney grille – which now projects farther forward and features a wide surround as well as BMW Iconic Glow contour lighting – and twin headlights with LED elements arranged almost vertically to serve as turn indicators and daytime driving lights. From the side, the high shoulder line, powerfully designed surfaces and two precisely traced character lines make up the car’s sleek proportions. Black side skirts, flush-mounted door openers and an embossed number 5 at the base of the C-pillar add eye-catching touches to go with the panorama glass roof, while the powerful rear end stands out with flat rear lights.
Both variants of the BMW i5 for the Thai market come with the sporty exterior package – including M-inspired rear spoiler in body paintwork for the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport and high-gloss black for the BMW i5 M60 xDrive and M Sport brake callipers in dark blue metallic for the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport and red high-gloss for the BMW i5 M60 xDrive.
The more powerful i5 M60 xDrive also adds a touch of exclusivity up front with the M Lights Shadow Line headlights and 21-inch BMW Individual aerodynamic alloy wheels in bicolour Jet Black, while the i5 eDrive40 M Sport sits on top of 20-inch M aerodynamic alloy wheels in bicolour Black Grey.
The BMW i5’s performance-centric engineering rises to the fore in the range-topping BMW i5 M60 xDrive with its BMW xDrive Electric all-wheel drive system producing up to 442 kW / 601 hp of sheer power and 795 Nm torque, and with M Sport Boost or M Launch Control activated, as high as 820 Nm torque. This enables the BMW i5 M60 xDrive to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds on its way to an electrically limited top speed of 230 km/h – all numbers worthy of the hallmark M performance. The two highly integrated drive units are powered by a space-saving, high-voltage battery located in the underbody, providing 81.2 kWh of usable energy (net energy) for a range of 455-516 kilometres by WLTP standards or up to 466 kilometres under NEDC standards.
The BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport, meanwhile, uses an electric motor to power its rear wheels and generates up to 250 kW / 340 hp of power as well as 400 Nm or up to 430 Nm torque with Sport Boost or Launch Control active. Backed by the same high-voltage battery as its M stablemate, The BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport’s powertrain takes it from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds with top speed capped at 193 km/h and a range of 497-582 kilometres by WLTP standards or up to 501 kilometres under NEDC standards.
There is no compromise when it comes to charging the all-electric BMW i5. The vehicle’s Combined Charging Unit (CCU) enables AC charging with an output of up to 22 kW, while DC charging can reach as high as 205 kW of power. As a result, the BMW i5 can top up its battery from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes.
The all-electric BMW i5 takes the 5 Series’ characteristic balance between maximum sportiness and high-level long-distance comfort to a new level with the increased track width, an almost perfectly balanced 50:50 ratio axle load distribution, intelligent lightweight construction, and increased body and chassis connection rigidity. Both variants of the i5 feature the Adaptive Suspension Professional system with electronically controlled shock absorbers, and Integral Active Steering
The M-inspired touches continue on the inside of the new BMW i5 with an interior adorned with M leather steering wheel, CraftedClarity crystal glass, electronically adjustable Comfort seats up front, and more – while ambient lighting, roller sunblinds for rear passengers, and the included BMW Travel & Comfort System enhances both luxury and practicality on every journey. The BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport’s interior comes decked in Dark Silver M with Aluminium Rhombicle trim, while the BMW i5 M60 xDrive goes for Dark Silver M accent combined with Carbon Fibre and high-gloss silver threads. With separate temperature, air volume, and air distribution controls for the driver, front passenger, and left and right rear seat passengers, all occupants will be perfectly comfortable in their own way, while an automatic air conditioning programme with 5 intensity levels, a rear solar sensor, and nano particulate filters provide ease of use as well as consistently fresh air.
The BMW i5’s cockpit retains BMW’s distinctive driver-oriented design with the BMW Curved Display system, which includes a 12.3-inch Information Display and a 14.9-inch Control Display. Now running BMW Operating System 8.5 with QuickSelect, the i5’s driver can access various functions and controls more intuitively with a vertically-arranged row of icons on the driver’s side, reducing the need to navigate submenus before activating a feature. Furthermore, BMW Curved Display operates alongside the new BMW iDrive system to deliver simple controls via touchscreen and natural language alongside buttons on the steering wheel and the BMW iDrive Controller on the centre console. The included BMW Live Cockpit Professional package, meanwhile, adds BMW Head-Up Display and Augmented View for use on either the Control Display or the instrument cluster.
Another interior highlight is the BMW Interaction Bar – a backlit crystalline strip that extends across the entire width of the instrument panel and into the door panels, providing touch-sensitive controls as well as context-sensitive lighting with up to six My Modes (Personal, Efficient, Sport and Sport+, Expressive, and Relax) available to tailor the experience to your liking.
In addition to the supremely fine-tuned handling and comfort, the new BMW i5 also offers an incredible entertainment experience for driver and passengers alike. The range-topping BMW i5 M60 xDrive marks the first appearance of Bowers & Wilkins’ acclaimed surround sound system in a 5 Series vehicle, delivering joy straight to your ears with a setup that comprises 17 loudspeakers with a total system power of 655 watts. With the inclusion of a 7-band equaliser and bass-dedicated speakers set within premium metal trims in the car’s doors, the i5 M60 xDrive has the power and flexibility to bring your kind of sound to life anywhere you go. The new BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport, meanwhile, is an entertainment heavyweight in its own right with a Harman Kardon hi-fi sound system that includes 12 loudspeakers and a digital amplifier with 205-watt total power and adjustable equaliser.
BMW Operating System 8.5 is also joining in the fun with access to a wider range of digital content for both information and entertainment as well as faster update cycles. One major highlight is the built-in AirConsole platform, which enables the driver and passengers to play casual games while the vehicle is stationary to make even charging stops an entertaining affair for everyone.
On the road, the driver can enjoy the assuredness and precision of the Driving Assistant Professional system – which includes Steering and Lane Control Assist that can be activated by the turning stalk and Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function with a maximum speed of 210 km/h. In parking situation, the Parking Assistant Plus uses the camera and ultrasound-based assistance system to assist the driver with a wide-range of functions such as the Parking Assistant, the Reversing Assistant, the Active Park Distance Control, the Lateral Parking Aid, and the Surround View system. The driver can also activate the Remote 3D View from My BMW app to view the vehicle surrounding at anytime and from anywhere. In addition, the driver can purchase the BMW Drive Recorder, a high-resolution 360° video, at any time on BMW ConnectedDrive store.
BMW Proactive Care: your peace of mind on the road
To build upon extraordinary experiences that BMW owners are already enjoying on the road, BMW Group Thailand is introducing a new data- and AI-driven customer service offering under the name Proactive Care. This new service brings with it tools and offerings that allow the vehicle to identify existing and predictable service requirements itself, so that in many cases it can anticipate the customer’s needs and proactively offer solutions.
From digital tire diagnosis and fault messages reported by the vehicle to service requirements, Proactive Care analyses data from the car as well as records of customer preferences to notify the vehicle owner of recommended servicing via the My BMW app, an in-car notification, email, contact from their selected dealer, or a phone call from Roadside Assistance. In the long term, customers will enjoy an enhanced service experience in every step – from self-help tips like a remote software upgrade to flexible support on your travels or recommendations on the dealer workshop to visit.
Proactive Care is available now in BMW models with BMW Operating System 7 or later (as of version 07/2019 onward). Customers will require an active BMW ConnectedDrive contract, a vehicle registration in the My BMW app or the My BMW Portal with their BMW ID and contact details, the Privacy Policy acceptance in the vehicle, and a consent to be contacted by an authorised BMW dealer.
For more information, visit the BMW website or contact an authorised BMW dealer.
Additional Photos
BMW Group Thailand
*Price as of 19 October 2023
