Just yesterday BMW unveiled the refreshed 2024 X5 and the Bavarian company is continuing work on another member of the ‘5’ family – the new generation 5 Series. Our spies caught a prototype of the electric version of the model in wagon form – a vehicle provisionally known as the i5 Touring. The prototype has a lot of camouflage covering its body but it already wears its production headlights and taillights.
The only exterior section that isn’t disguised on this test vehicle is its roof – everything else is covered in camouflage foil and there are small dummy body panels attached to the front bumper, which makes it look out of place. If you think this is a combustion prototype, check out the electrified vehicle decals on the doors, as well as the bumper that lacks exhaust pipes.
12 Pictures
With the new 5 Series family, BMW will go down the evolutionary path and not drastically change the exterior of the model. The CLAR architecture will underpin all members of the 5er range, which means that different body types with different powertrains will be produced on the same assembly line. The company will be betting heavily on electrification and there is even a rumor that only the top-end M5 model will be available with a V8 engine. By the way, BMW is also expected to launch an M5 Touring to complement the M3 Touring in the performance station wagon segment.
We don’t know much about what’s under the i5’s skin. The battery-powered model could share technologies with the i4 and iX, although BMW has been tight-lipped about its plans for the electric 5 Series. The i5 Touring is expected to launch later in the model’s lifecycle and become one of the few electric wagons in global markets.
The first to arrive from the revamped 5 Series family will be the conventional sedan, which has been confirmed to launch later this year. Zero-emission versions are expected next year, while the M5 Sedan (G90) and M5 Touring (G91) are expected to follow soon after.
