The 2024 BMW 5 Series Gets EV Variant, On-Board Video Games, and an Eye-Controlled Driving Assistant

The eighth-generation "G60" BMW 5 Series is here, and it brings with it more power, a hands-free driving assistant, BMW's newest generation of iDrive, and—for the first time—an electric variant.

The all-electric i5 will be offered in rear-wheel-drive eDrive40 and all-wheel-drive M60 xDrive variations. The former starts at $67,795 and makes 335 hp with its rear-mounted electric drive unit. Torque is rated at 295 lb-ft, but a "Sport Boost" function can provide brief spurts of up to 317 lb-ft. Zero to 60 takes 5.7 seconds, and using launch control also accesses that temporary reserve of extra torque. Top speed is limited to 120 mph.

For more power, you'll have to step up to the i5 M60 xDrive, now the range topper of the 5 series lineup. It pairs that 335-hp rear motor with a 257-hp motor on the front axle. Total torque output rises to 549 lb-ft, with a temporary boost function bringing 605 lb-ft to bear. It'll hit 60 in 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 143 mph on summer tires, or 130 mph on all-season rubber.

The conventional 5 Series isn't gone, though. Like the previous model, the 5 series offers a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a 3.0-liter straight-six. The V-8, however, is no more. We'll have to see if it returns when the next-generation M5 is unveiled. For now, internal-combustion 5-series customers get 255hp and 295 lb-ft (up 7 hp and 38 lb-ft) from the carryover four-cylinder. The next-gen straight six sees bigger improvements, thanks to a new VANOS variable valve timing and lift system that tweaks the cam phasing electronically, rather than mechanically. It now makes 375 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque, up 40 hp and 52 lb-ft of torque from last year's 54oi. The mild hybrid system allows a temporary torque boost up to 398 lb-ft.

The 'six is offered exclusively in all-wheel-drive guise, allowing it to sprint to 60 in 4.5 seconds. The rear-wheel drive 530i takes 5.9 seconds to do the deed, but upgrading to the all-wheel-drive version notches that figure down to 5.8 seconds.

All 5 Series come with BMW's latest operating system, version 8.5. It has a persistent map view and buttons for the home menu, apps, navigation, media, communication, and Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The 5 Series also gets BMW's newest version of Highway Assistant, which now functions hands-free, a la GM Super Cruise. Driver attention is still monitored using eye-tracking, which enables a weird feature: The car will suggest lane changes when it wants to overtake or move out of the way, and the driver can confirm these suggested actions purely by looking at the corresponding mirror.