BMW’s first run in electrification didn’t yield good results. The ‘i’ series didn’t succeed the way BMW would’ve wanted it to and instead of making a mark as one of the early adopters of electrification, it is now remembered for being not very successful. However, the company is working hard on it and the two upcoming products – the i4 and the iNEXT – look promising.
To keep the momentum going, BMW has taken a bold step. According to U.K.’s Car Magazine, the next-gen “G60” M5, set to debut in 2023, will most likely be the first M vehicle to be electrified. The car will also churn out four-digit horsepower figures!
The Current-Gen M5 Might Be The Last One To Feature A Pure Internal Combustion Engine
BMW had recently unveiled the 5 Series LCI and we were waiting for the M5 LCI to debut as well. But, even before that could happen, we have news on the next-gen M5. BMW is pressing hard towards electrification, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that even enthusiast cars will go through the same ordeal. It is reported that the 2024 BW M5 will be offered in two forms – as a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle). This means the next-gen M5 will not feature a gasoline engine in its lineup.
How Will The Two New Powertrains Be Spec’d?
Since the M5 is all about performance, can BMW do justice to it? The PHEV M5 will apparently feature the same hybrid powertrain as the upcoming X8 M. This is a V-8 engine paired to electric motors that churn out a combined 750 ponies and 737 pound-feet of twist. Power will be sent to all four wheels.
That means each motor will make approximately 335 horses, resulting in over 1,000 horsepower of combined power output. That’s similar to the power produced by a Bugatti Veyron.
It is also rumored to get a 135-kWh battery pack that can charge up to the speeds of 135 kW using a 400-volt charger. 800-volt charging will also be supported. As for the performance specs, the electric M5 is expected to take 2.9 seconds to hit the 62 mph mark from a standstill. BMW’s Achilles’ heel to date, the battery range, is expected to be rated around 435 miles as per WLTP standards.
This Means An Electric M5 Has Been In The Works For Quite Some Time
What’s the supporting evidence to this rumor, you ask? Last year, BMW stripped off an M550i xDrive and equipped it with two electric motors at the rear axle and one at the front – similar to the G60 M5. Called Lucy, this example made 720 horses and 848 pound-feet of torque. Thanks to all the torque available right from the beginning, the large sedan could sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in 2.8 seconds, according to a ‘conservative’ estimate. This mad power feels like the Ludicrous Mode on the Tesla Model S.
Are We Looking At an Electric M5 versus Tesla Model S duel?
Wait a second; does this mean BMW is building a car to take on the Model S? If you talk about the dimensions, they are almost the same size as well. The Tesla Model S measures 195.9 inches in length, 77.3 inches in width, and 56.5 inches in height. The wheelbase measures 116.5 inches.
The current BMW M5, on the other hand, is 195.5 inches long, 74.9 inches wide, and 55.7 inches tall. The wheelbase measures 117.4 inches. Looks like BMW has set its eyes on the target. But Tesla is most likely to have the tri-motor Plaid powertrain ready by then.
Final Thoughts
The BMW electric M5 might be rocking the specs in theory, but there are high chances that it won’t meet the expectations of the enthusiasts. The M series comprises of performance-oriented models that are fun to drive on tracks as well as the streets.
The grunts of the engine and the raw power delivery will be completely different. The M models are one of the best performance cars out there and even though the ride and handling might be sorted, the sheer driving pleasure will be missing or completely different. Only time will tell how the electric M5 will sit with the enthusiasts.
What are your thoughts about an electric M5? Will you buy it over the internal combustion engine M5? Let us know in the comments section below.