Not only the new Mercedes E-Class, but also the Mercedes EQE will probably get the sweat of fear on the forehead. BMW will unpack its new 5 Series within a good two weeks, and it will be joined for the first time by a purely electric variant under the name i5. It had previously shown its camouflaged silhouette a number of times, but it was left waiting for a glimpse of the interior… Until now.
i7 inspiration, or at least inside
BMW has in fact sent two short teaser videos into the world, the most remarkable of which is that of the inside of the upcoming i5. In it we see a huge strip of ambient lighting come to life, which gives color not only to the dashboard but also to the front doors. The i5 has copied that trick from big brother i7, although the rest of the cockpit seems to have a slightly different structure. For example, it looks on the images as if the transparent LED strip on the i5 bends with the infotainment screen, while the curved display on the i5 is separate on the dashboard and the mood lighting is hidden in one continuous element below.
However, the most important design break with the i7 can be found in the video that shows the nose of the i5, because it shows off a slightly more traditional design. For example, the electric 5 Series keeps to a smaller grille and simpler lighting, compared to the giant holes and headlight cake of the 7 Series and i7. However, those who like to stand out still get their money’s worth with the lighting that accentuates the grille. We will learn how that will all look in daylight on May 24.