The i5 M60 xDrive is the fifth arrow in BMW's electric quiver for India, joining the iX1, 14, iX, and the stately electrified 7 Series. Bold doesn't quite capture it. This is BMW's 5 Series, an icon for over 50 years and a benchmark in the driver's sedan pantheon. Ten million units have been sold since 1972, and they are cherished equally in their M-powered guises and as the dependable four-cylinder option.
Recasting such a legacy car as an all-electric M? That's either genius or sacrilege, depending on your perspective.
Let's start with the design and save the armchair critics some typing. What don't I like? The missing exhaust pipes. That's it.
Sure, I get the point, but that's really the only gripe because, honestly, it looks smashing. It's not even funny how many heads it's turned. Is it the illuminated grille, the power-bulged hood haunches, or the 20-inch M alloys paired with red M brake callipers? Take your pick. It's got a massive road presence. And here's a twist: the wheelbase is 105mm shorter than its petrol-drinking cousin, making it look all the more balanced.
At the rear, it's all sculpted aggression-a sharp bumper, diffuser, angular tail lamps, and a boot lip spoiler. Up front, assertive bumper angles and cavernous air gaps signal that it means business. Pair it all with a black roof and those iconic M mirrors, and the i5 doesn't just walk-it struts the line between modern, classy, and sporty.
Denne historien er fra December 2024-utgaven av BBC TopGear India.
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Denne historien er fra December 2024-utgaven av BBC TopGear India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Mi5 SILENT, POSH AND LETHAL!
With its reimagined design language, BMW has done what it does best-divided opinion with the kind of fervour usually reserved for debates about pineapple on pizza.
A VIRAL ESCAPE
The last time I visited Hampi in Karnataka was back in 2021, just as the world began to shake off the COVID-19 travel bans.
FROM UNDERDOG TO CHAMPION
Thierry Neuville's Journey to WRC Glory
Max Verstappen: FOUR-TIME CHAMP UNDER THE VEGAS LIGHTS
From dominance to resilience, Verstappen cements his legacy while Mercedes shines in Sin
VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS GT PLUS SPORT: SEXY+SPORT
Volkswagen has a knack for keeping their loyal and enthusiastic customers grinning from ear to ear. The German manufacturer has almost become synonymous with build quality, safety and performance.
BE GE AND XEV 9E Sexy and Ballsy!
Starting a review can be quite a challenge, especially when it's hard to pinpoint the flaws!
CAPTURING THE ESSENCE
Chilly, cold mornings and Mumbai is a rare combination that we seldom see in this part of our beautiful country.
BATTLE OF TWO GOLIATHS
When Luxury Meets Performance, Who Takes the Crown?
THE E-MPV THAT DARES TO DREAM BIG
The MPV market, dominated for aeons by Toyota's Innova, has always felt like a rather predictable place. It's the type of vehicle you buy not out of passion but practicality-like a pair of orthopaedic shoes.
IMPRACTICAL YET IRRESISTIBLE
Exactly ten years ago, I took my first international trip. It was to Bahrain, a country of endless desert and skyscrapers, where my aunt and uncle lived. Among their friends and neighbours, one particular gentleman, upon learning I was a budding petrolhead, took an entire day off work to take me around the city’s showrooms to see some “normal” Middle East traffic.
