The all-new 2024 BMW 5 Series, now in its eighth generation, has landed and with it comes a plethora of different options. There’s something for everyone in this iconic badge. Since its inception in 1972, the 5 Series has combined track-worthy performance with long-distance comfort, and its decades-long popularity proves its staying power—more than 10 million BMW 5 Series have now been produced since the spring of 2023.
While some brands and models lose their luster during a 50-year run, the BMW 5 Series has only gotten better with time.
In the latest launch, we’re seeing revolutionary design leaps and milestone engineering feats. Perhaps the most noteworthy in the 2024 BMW 5 Series line-up is the fully electric models, including the i5 eDrive40 and i5 M60 xDrive. There are combustible models, too, like the 530i, 530i xDrive, and 540i xDrive.
We’ll receive the 530i xDrive and the i5 M60 xDrive in Canada in October, with others following suit in 2024.
In the 530i xDrive, the 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder engine uses the latest BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. The exhaust manifold has been integrated into the cylinder head and it will garner 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque—an increase of 7 hp and 38 lb-ft—which will send the 2024 530i XDrive from 0-100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds.
“The internal combustion engines offered in the new BMW 5 Series all stem from a common modular design,” explains BMW Canada. “The associated innovations include the Miller combustion process, which shortens the opening times of the intake valves, a redesign of the intake ducts and combustion chambers, as well as innovations in the areas of camshaft control, injection, ignition system and exhaust gas routing.”
On the electrification front, the i5 M60 xDrive houses the same high-voltage battery as the fifth-gen BMW eDrive. It has a low profile that seamlessly fits into the underbody of the BMW i5 without compromising space—the passenger side, which is often decreased in order to house the battery in EV models, is exactly the same in the i5 as it is in the new combustion models.
Charging times are dropping, too. When connected to a DC fast charger, the battery life of the i5 M60 xDrive can be juiced up from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes.
Regardless of whether you’re Team Gas or Team Electric, there are certain new functions that are available across the board, like automatic lane assist that uses the driver’s eye to do so and electromechanical power steering.
There’s no doubt that the 2024 BMW 5 Series will continue to be a fan favourite among motorists, well into the electrified future.
