There is something new in the range of BMW electric cars and more particularly on the i5 Touring side. This large electric station wagon receives a new xDrive40 version with four-wheel drive and a little more horsepower under the hood. Be careful, however, with the reduction in autonomy.
BMW is one of the manufacturers with one of the most sprawling ranges. The BMW 5 Series is the perfect example, with two body styles available, electric, thermal, plug-in hybrid versions and the formidable M5 with more than 700 hp.
The BMW i5 Touring, which has just arrived in the catalog in France, is already enriched with a rather interesting new version, at least for the customer wanting to have four-wheel drive without spending 109,050 euros for the formidable version M60 with 601 hp.
Small improvements that make a difference
Indeed, after the 340 hp eDrive40 and its range varying from 489 to 560 km in propulsion, here is the xDrive40 version with 394 hp and 590 Nm of torque. It has two electric motors, which now makes it a four-wheel drive. Its battery has a net capacity of 81.2 kWh (83.9 kWh gross) offering electric autonomy in the WLTP combined cycle varying between 453 and 520 kilometers depending on equipmenta little less than its single-engine cousin.
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In terms of recharging, the battery accepts up to 22 kW in alternating current for a complete charge in 4h15 (an option at 1,250 euros, 11 kW as standard) and 205 kW in direct current, enough to go from 10 to 80% in “approximately 30 minutes” – battery preconditioning is included in the route planner, to best optimize charging times.
During our recent test of the eDrive40 version, we noted a consumption of 17.6 kWh/100 km after 42 km of main roads, at a really relaxed pace, enough to hope for 460 km on a full charge. The xDrive40 version should consume a little more and the autonomy should also be reduced a little.
In terms of price, the xDrive40 starts at 83 150 eurosor 5,400 euros more than the eDrive.
Is the competition doing better?
Its main competition will be the recently presented Audi A6 e-tron Avant, and BMW will have its work cut out to compete with it.
Indeed, this A6 e-tron in addition to benefiting from a better Cx, inherits the 94.9 kWh battery (net capacity) from the Q6 e-tron. She can thus travel up to 721 km in its Avant Performance version, or around 170 km more than its rival. The charging power of the sedan with the rings completes its appeal with 800 V technology which allows a maximum charging capacity of 270 kW in direct current.
The transition from 10 to 80% battery takes just 21 minutes. 9 more are needed for the BMW i5, equipped with 400 V technology, which “limits” the direct current power to 205 kW.
The A6 e-tron Avant starts at 68,000 euros, and with a few options, it can go up to 93,000 euros. The negative point about the Audi is that it does not have four-wheel drive at the moment, unless you upgrade to the S6 e-tron Avant with 550 hp, 648 kW of autonomy and from 106 500 euros.
