BMW India is looking to capitalise on its EV sales momentum by launching more affordable variants of the i5 sedan by the fourth quarter of this year. At the moment, the BMW i5 is only available in range-topping M60 xDrive form, priced at Rs 1.2 crore. However, international markets get two more variants, the i5 eDrive40 and the xDrive40.
- BMW i5 eDrive40, xDrive40 get the same 81.2kWh battery
- RWD i5 eDrive40 likely for India
- BMW i5 eDrive40 price range likely to be Rs 85 lakh-90 lakh
BMW i5 eDrive40, xDrive40 range, battery and specifications
i5 eDrive40 gets 340hp RWD setup; xDrive40 gets a 394hp AWD one.
Other than sporting a less aggressive design compared to the i5 M60 xDrive, the eDrive40 and xDrive40 share the same overall design and interior layout. All three i5 variants also share the same 81.2kWh (net) battery pack, albeit with different WLTP range figures and power outputs.
The eDrive40’s battery powers a 340hp, 430Nm motor mounted on the rear axle, and it has a claimed WLTP range of up to 582km. The i5 xDrive40’s battery drives two motors – one on each axle – making a combined 394hp and 590Nm, and its claimed range is up to 538km. The RWD eDrive40 has a claimed 0-100kph time of 6 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 193kph, while the AWD xDrive40 can do 0-100kph in a claimed 5.4 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 215kph.
New BMW i5 variant price estimate
BMW India looking to fill the gap between the i4 (Rs 72.5 lakh) and the i5 M60 xDrive (Rs 1.2 crore).
Considering BMW India has the i4 sedan on sale at Rs 72.5 lakh, and the i5 M60 xDrive at Rs 1.2 crore, it’ll be looking to fill that gap in its price point. This would likely mean that the more affordable BMW i5 eDrive40 will be brought to India, with a price tag between Rs 85 lakh and Rs 90 lakh. The i5 eDrive40 will not have a direct rival in our market, as all-electric luxury sedans are scarcer than their SUV counterparts.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
