The BMW 5 Series has been one of the company's cornerstones since the first E12 came off the line in 1972. In the intervening 45 years, BMW has added other numbered series from 1 through 8 plus the X family and the two cars from BMW i, but the 5 Series remains the line that many think of first when they think BMW. The new seventh-generation G30 5 Series that will go on sale in 2017 will constitute its own diverse lineup with a variety of powerplants, trim levels, and real-wheel and all-wheel drive versions.
This diversity is most apparent in the just-announced 2018 BMW 530e iPerformance—BMW's first plug-in hybrid 5 Series Sedan. Combining technology transferred from BMW i with the advanced driver assistance and connected features already revealed in the new G30 5 Series, the 530e iPerformance will bring electrification to another segment of BMW customers.
BMW promised us electric models in every series. The 530e iPerformance becomes the fourth such vehicle available in the U.S. after the X5 40e, the 740e, and the 330e. The BMW 225xe iPerformance Active Tourer is available elsewhere in the world, but BMW didn't think the U.S. was ready for a BMW multipurpose vehicle (read: minivan) and it may have been correct about that.
The 530e, which will arrive in dealerships this spring, will be the first BMW iPerformance model available in both sDrive (rear-wheel drive) and xDrive (all-wheel drive). Pricing is not available right now, but will be as we get closer to market launch.
The reasons for a plug-in hybrid 5 Series are obvious. To meet European Union and U.S. mandates, BMW must reduce its fleet emissions and increase fleet fuel mileage, and the most effective way to do that without robbing too much performance is by combining internal combustion engines with battery-powered electric motors. Electrified cars also fall within BMW's corporate philosophy of environmental responsibility and sustainability. Offering electric or plug-in hybrid options in more market segments can attract more like-minded customers, which translates to more sales.
Even plug-ins must inherit at least some of BMW's performance DNA, so to make the 530e a sports sedan and not just a people mover, BMW has given it a two-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine that produces 180 horsepower and 215 pound-feet of torque. A 95-horsepower electric motor with another 184 pound-feet of torque is added in front of the standard eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission that drives the rear wheels if the car is an sDrive model, or all four if it has xDrive.
When all propulsion systems are active, they combine for a total of 248 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, which is enough to send the 530e from zero to 60 miles per hour in 6.1 seconds. Top speed is limited to 130 miles per hour.
The 9.2 kWh lithium-ion high-voltage battery pack sits under the rear seat so no trunk space is lost. The batteries can be recharged from the 110-volt charging unit that comes with the car in about seven hours. Using a higher-level 220-volt charger will get the job done in around three hours.
To denote the iPerformance line the 530e receives blue kidney grille slats, blue wheel hub covers, “i” badging on the front fenders, “eDrive” emblems on the C‑pillars, and the “530e” badge on the trunk lid. The cover for the electron filler between the front wheel arch and the A-pillar on the driver’s side is another iPerformance giveaway. The door sills sport an illuminated "eDrive" and the eDrive button on the center console reveals this is not your normal 5 Series.
The car's Dynamic Driving Switch allows selection of Sport, Comfort, and Eco Pro modes like other 5 Series, while the eDrive button adds Auto eDrive, Max eDrive, and Battery Control Modes. Auto eDrive will probably be selected a lot, since it is the default and also ensures that the gasoline engine and electric motor are coordinated for best efficiency. To travel on electric power alone—up to 87 miles per hour—drivers may choose Max eDrive. Battery Control lets the driver set the battery charge level to a specified amount, which the car will maintain using the electric motor as a generator. The driver can, for example, cruise the interstate or rural roads using primarily the internal combustion engine, and then revert to electric power alone for running around urban areas.
The 530e has iDrive 6.0 and a 10.5-inch display that accepts input by touch, voice, the iDrive controller, or the optional Gesture Control that was introduced last year on the 7 Series.
Like most BMWs today, the list of driver assistance systems is long and growing longer. For the new 530e there is Blind Spot Detection, Active Lane Keeping Assistant with Side Collision Avoidance, and Active Lane Keeping Assistant & Traffic Jam Assistant. These semi-autonomous systems can be used between zero and 130 mph to keep the vehicle in its lane.
Dynamic Cruise Control is standard on the 530e but the optional Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is useful for maintaining following distances and even braking the car to a complete stop when required by traffic ahead. It also helps conserve fuel by decoupling the engine from the powertrain when the driver lifts off the accelerator at higher speeds. The new and improved Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go can look two cars ahead to avoid surprises and can handle exits and traffic circles. The system's forward radar sensors are heated so the system can perform even in snow and ice.
Continuing down the semi-autonomous driving path, the new 530e has Evasion Aid. BMW describes it thusly, "If a quick lane change is required, for example when the vehicle in front brakes aggressively, the evasion aid—which operates at speeds up to 100 mph—supports the necessary evasive steering action. Faster steering and counter steering during an evasive maneuver results in reduced vehicle instability, supported by Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). While executing the maneuver, the Evasion Aid also uses information from the vehicle’s sensor systems to check how much unobstructed space is available around the vehicle. At speeds over 100 mph, the system no longer provides actual steering support and instead focuses on maximizing vehicle stability." Okay, we will probably let someone else test that system at 100 mph.
The 530e iPerformance comes with all the BMW Connected features of its 5 Series siblings. Using the flexible Open Mobility Cloud, BMW Connected can stay in contact with your iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android smartphone or smart watch. Apple CarPlay is also supported as an option.
The 530e iPerformance slips comfortably into the slot between the 330e and 740e for those BMW fans who still want a car and not a light truck. It gives BMW an electric option in its never-ending sales battles with Mercedes-Benz and other premium automakers. It will provide those who don't mind plugging in their car at night a very comfortable, well-appointed mid-size car with the latest technology that performs and handles very well and gets excellent fuel mileage. Coming in a 5 Series package, that might satisfy a great many drivers.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
