Czechia welcomes a BMW icon reborn with fully electric drive

As the European automotive industry adapts to the need to create attractive electric car options, the premium segment is ahead of the curve. Manufacturers are now creating electric vehicles that deliver luxury driving experiences for the new age in road transportation.

BMW is among the companies leading innovations in electric vehicle design, ensuring that its most popular car types gain a new lease of life. Now, the company is introducing a new generation of its 5 Series Sedan, the world’s most successful business sedan, that incorporates all-electric drive options as well as a wealth of digital technologies.

The result is a new 5 Series that embodies the ethos of premium sustainability defining BMW’s brand. The car is also a sign of things to come, as the shift to electric drive is accompanied by other leaps forward in design and production.

The new 5 Series Sedan comes in various options, including petrol, diesel, hybrid and all-electric drive. The all-electric version makes the biggest statement of the new range, incorporating BMW’s enhanced fifth-generation eDrive technology in two different variants: the BMW i5 M60 xDrive, which can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, and the BMW i5 eDrive40, which can perform the same acceleration in 6 seconds.

The space-saving battery sits in the underbody, and in addition to electric motors, adaptive recuperation and heat pump technology are incorporated. The M60 xDrive variant has a range of 455-516 kilometers, while the eDrive 40 model has a range of 498-582 kilometers. This can be increased by up to a quarter if functionalities promoting comfort are disabled and limits are set on power and speed.

Public interest in electric vehicles is growing. Maciej Galant, BMW’s General Manager for Czechia, told Expats.cz “we hope that by around 2024, 25 percent of all our car sales in Czechia could be electric. This proves that interest is going up, and we’re very excited to see attitudes changing in a positive way.”

Along with fundamental performance parameters, another key area of development being pursued by BMW to make electric cars more desirable is charging infrastructure. Connected Home Charging is available for the electric and plug-in hybrid 5 Series models, making solar and load-optimized charging possible along with cost-optimized charging. At the same time, the 5 Series is the first BMW vehicle of its type to be suitable for use with Plug & Charge functionality, meaning the car authenticates itself automatically at public charging stations without the need for an app or charging card.

The 5 Series’ Combined Charging Unit (CCU) allows AC charging with a standard output of up to 11 kW, though an output of up to 22 kW is possible. The high-voltage battery can take direct currents with a power of up to 205 kW; as such, the battery can be raised from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes.

BMW’s innovations don’t stop with the 5 Series’ new drive options. For the first time, the car has a fully “vegan” interior, including seat surfaces, the dashboard, door panels and steering wheel. The vegan option is given as standard, but customers can tailor their car with decorative seat perforation or genuine leather upholstery in several color variants.

Galant told Expats.cz that through the use of modern materials, BMW aspires to make its cars “100 percent circular, meaning every element can be reused another time.” This shift in production practices is part of the company’s desire to become “the greenest car manufacturer in the world.”

The 5 Series’ interior is an enjoyable place to be whether you’re driving through city traffic or covering long distances. Driving pleasure and relaxation is ensured with generous space, modern functionalities, quality materials, and a reduced number of buttons and controls. A curved digital display can be complemented by the optional BMW Interaction Bar, which extends across the entire width of the instrument panel far into the door panels and includes touch-sensitive controls.

BMW’s development of electric drive possibilities for the 5 Series is part of the company’s wider push to innovate the automotive industry. The incorporation of advanced digital technologies is now an integral part of a modern driving experience.

The new 5 Series can optionally be fitted with a partially automated driving function called Driving Assistant Professional, which includes steering, lane control, distance control and stop & go functions. The car is meanwhile the first in the world to include Active Lane Change Assistant with eye confirmation; the vehicle suggests a lane change and this is confirmed merely by looking in the exterior mirror.

Standard features for partially automated driving and parking include the possibility to control parking and maneuvering from outside the vehicle via smartphone. Use of the BMW Operating System 8.5, meanwhile, facilitates a wide range of digital information and entertainment including video streaming via YouTube and in-car gaming while the car is stationary via the AirConsole platform.

The first new 5 Series Sedans arrived in Czechia in October 2023, and orders can already be placed with authorized dealers. Given the popularity of the 5 Series and the innovations of the new generation, early orders may be advisable to avoid longer waiting times.

Prices for the new 5 Series vary depending on the drive option selected. Prices start at CZK 1,467,700 for the 520i petrol version and go up to CZK 2,523,300 for the M60 xDrive all-electric model.

This article was written in cooperation with BMW Czech Republic s.r.o. Read more about our partner content policies here.