BMW ushers in the new 5-Series

The Bavarian automaker has presented the next generation of its 5 sedan, landing it with evolutionary exterior modifications, an all-new interior and an EV version for the first time in history. Worldwide sales are set to begin this fall starting from U.S. $58,000.

Inside, the attention is immediately drawn to a pair of large displays with 12.3 and 14.9 inches of diagonal size. The infotainment system runs on iDrive 8.5 OS, the steering wheel and center console have been redesigned, and there are new vegan-friendly trim options available.

On the exterior side of things, the design remains fairly conservative compared to other recent BMW releases, although the bumpers have been reshaped and the radiator grille bezels swollen to roughly twice the size of the old one.

In Europe, the 5-Series ships with four-cylinder mild-hybrid engines rated at 208 PS (205 hp / 153 kW) if you stick with petrol or 197 PS (194 hp / 145 kW) if you prefer diesel. Customers in the United States will also get a gas six-pot capable of 375 PS (370 hp / 276 kW).

The all-electric i5 will debut in two flavors. The single-motor eDrive40 spec will produce 340 PS (335 hp / 250 kW) and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque. The dual-engine M60 xDrive flagship will offer a superior 601 PS (593 hp / 442 kW) along with 820 Nm (610 lb-ft) of torque, allowing a sprint from zero to highway speed in 3.8 seconds.

An 81.2-kilowatt-hour traction battery will yield an estimated 582 km (361 miles) of range in the 2WD spec and 516 km (320 miles) in the 4WD one, BMW reports.