BMW will be expanding its electrified options for both the all-electric i5 and the traditional 5 Series. First up will be a third powertrain choice for the i5, the xDrive40, which will slide right between the base eDrive40, and the high-performance M60. And following the i5
will be the 550e xDrive PHEV to provide a bridge between internal combustion and full-electric driving.
The i5 xDrive40 is out first, and it has the most details. It does have two motors and all-wheel drive. Total output is 389 horsepower and 435
pound-feet of torque. BMW says it will get to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, a half-second faster than the base eDrive40, and will reach a top speed of 130 mph. It gets the same 84.3-kWh (usable)
battery pack as the other i5 models. Range hasn’t been given for the car yet. But it does have charging specs, with maximum AC charging of 11 kW and 205 kW maximum DC fast charging. BMW says an 80% charge can be had in 30 minutes. And just like the power output, the i5 xDrive40’s pricing slides between the entry- and top-level trims at $71,095 with destination charge. Production starts in March, and they should arrive at