BMW arrives at Monterey Car Week and Legends of the Autobahn fully charged for 2023, armed with an assembly of the latest vehicles that celebrate a Motorsport-bred heritage and look to a sustainable future. Building on the success of the i4 M50 and iX M60 is the latest addition to the electrified M Performance collection: the 590-horsepower 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive makes its North American debut simultaneously at the BMW Championship PGA golf tournament in Illinois and at Legends of the Autobahn.
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen demonstrates how hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be a practical component in the drive towards electrification with exceptional power, excellent electric range, and quick fuel stops. And fans will be able to get up close to the latest high-performance M products: the M3 CS, M2, XM, X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition.
On Thursday, August 17, German car fans will descend on the gorgeous Pacific Grove Golf Links for Legends of the Autobahn. Legends of the Autobahn is an all-German marque Concours d’Elegance hosted by the BMW Car Club of America, the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, and the Audi Club of North America. The annual concours events offer both corral and judged areas, awards for all three featured marques, and an open class for all other German-made cars. Over 300 classic and modern BMWs are expected to be on exhibit this year.
BMW i5 M60 xDrive
For the very first time, the BMW 5 Series is going electric. Now in its eighth generation, the BMW 5 Series continues to stand for advanced technology combined with sporty, elegant design, and the performance and comfort only a BMW can deliver.
The BMW i5 M60 xDrive sits at the top of the 5 Series range and combines a 590 hp electric drivetrain with hallmark M performance driving characteristics and specific design features.
This power enables the new BMW i5 M60 to rush from 0-60 mph in only 3.7 seconds, and the power is delivered continuously as speeds increase. The maximum speed of the BMW i5 M60 xDrive is electronically limited to143 mph when equipped with performance tires (130 mph with all-season tires).
The optional Driving Assistance Professional now includes the Highway Assistant, which enables attentive hands-free driving at speeds up to 85 mph where conditions and speed limits allow. The automated driving functions of the Driving Assistance Professional Package also include the new version of the Active Lane Change. In a world first, the Active Lane Change in the new BMW 5 Series can be controlled by eye activation. The vehicle suggests a lane change, and the driver can confirm the lane change simply by looking in the corresponding outside rearview mirror. The Active Lane Change performs the necessary steering movements automatically up to a speed of 85 mph, traffic conditions and speed limits permitting.
The introduction on the new 5 Series also sees the premier of in-car gaming. In a cooperation with the gaming platform AirConsole, driver and passengers can play casual games while the vehicle is stationary, for example to occupy waiting times while charging.
The i5 M60 xDrive will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2023 with a base MSRP of $81,400 plus $995 destination and handling.
BMW iX5 Hydrogen
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen was first unveiled as a concept in 2019. Its hydrogen fuel cell system is further proof of BMW’s leading development expertise in the field of electric drive technologies. The iX5 Hydrogen combines all the benefits of purely electric driving with the convenience of conventional refueling.
The gaseous hydrogen is stored onboard under very high pressure in two tanks: one under the rear seat and one under the center console. The hydrogen is drawn into the fuel cell, where its component molecules are split into protons and electrons. The electrons are routed through a circuit to produce a flow of electricity that powers the BMW GEN5 electric motor at the rear axle. The protons and electrons are then reunited and combined with oxygen in the air to form water, the only “emission” from the process.
The 168-hp fuel cell is supported by a compact high-voltage battery under the cargo floor for quick boosts of power when needed. Together, they make up the world’s most powerful passenger vehicle fuel cell system: producing up to 396 horsepower and allowing the iX5 to accelerate from 0-60 in about six seconds.
Refueling the iX5 Hydrogen is fundamentally the same process as refueling a gasoline-powered vehicle and requires only a few minutes; a fraction of the time currently required to fully charge a large high-voltage battery. And because the HV battery in the iX5 Hydrogen is significantly smaller than those used in conventional battery electric vehicles, much smaller amounts of raw materials like lithium and cobalt are used in its construction.
The vehicle that will be on display at Legends of the Autobahn is one of a small fleet of prototype vehicles in the US. The fleet is touring the country to demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen as an integral part of an electrification strategy as well as for field testing and collecting impressions from various target groups.
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen is a prototype vehicle and is not currently for sale.
BMW XM
Earlier this year, BMW M GmbH unleashed high performance in a form never experienced before. Innovative drive system technology, a unique vehicle concept – the first-ever BMW XM wraps these elements in a confidently dramatic exterior design that exudes power and emotion and an interior that is at once intensely driver-focused, boldly modern, and indulgently sybaritic.
The all-new BMW XM is fitted with a newly developed plug-in hybrid drivetrain, making it the very first electrified high-performance offering from BMW M. The M HYBRID system in the BMW XM consists of a new 483-hp V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and a 194-hp electric motor integrated into the 8-speed M Steptronic transmission. Together, they generate a maximum system output of 644 hp at 5,400 RPM and 590 ft-lbs of torque between 1,600 and 5,000 RPM while allowing up to 30 miles of purely electric propulsion.
The bold, expressive style of the BMW XM’s exterior design continues inside the cabin. The lines and surfaces of the instrument panel, center console, seats, and door trim panels create an environment around the driver and front passenger seats that authentically reflects the performance potential of the BMW XM. In back, deep recesses and a color and material design that continues into the door trim panels combine to create an inviting character in the rear M Lounge with a snug and comfortable feel.
The BMW XM starts at $159,000 plus $995 destination and handling and is on sale now. It is manufactured at BMW Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina.
