The upcoming BMW i5 electric sedan has been spied again ahead of an expected reveal in 2023.
Our spy photographers snapped two i5 prototypes at the Nürburgring and both of them are believed to be the high-performance M60 variant.
The two i5 prototypes both wear the same subtle rear lip spoiler and a blacked-out, grille-mounted M badge as a previously spied example that had papers stuck to the windscreen reading ‘i5 M60’.
No camouflage has been shed since the last prototypes of the i5 M60 were spied, though the shape and key details can be easily made out through the disguise.
It’s unclear what type of electric powertrain setup the high-performance i5 M60 will receive just yet, but it could be the same the iX M60.
The BMW iX M60 features a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing 455kW of power and 1100Nm of torque. It’s claimed to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds.
The all-electric BMW i5 is expected to be revealed alongside the new 5 Series in 2023, which is expected to offer combustion and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains.
Previous spy photos have revealed the cabin of the next 5er will feature a dual-screen setup, as is quickly becoming the norm in BMW’s model range, with the latest iDrive 8 operating system.
While the i5 will give BMW a direct rival to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz EQE and upcoming Audi A6 e-tron, the high-performance M5 isn’t expected to go all-electric just yet.
It’s expected to borrow the plug-in hybrid powertrain from the recently-revealed XM SUV, which consists of a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 with 360kW/650Nm, a 145kW/280Nm electric motor, and a 25.7kWh battery pack. Total system outputs are 480kW and 800Nm.
The current-generation BMW 5 Series has been on sale since 2016 and was facelifted in 2020.
Its arch-rival, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, is also set to be revealed in redesigned form during 2023.
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MORE: Everything BMW 5 Series
