BMW illuminates kidney grille of upcoming i5 EV sedan

For the first time in six years, a next-generation 5 series is coming. And just weeks before its debut, BMW has teased some of the new design traits of the first all-electric 5er.

BMW posted photos on social media, showing the i5's silhouette, its new lighting elements, as well as its BMW Curved Display with the latest BMW Operating System 8.5. We've previously seen the vertical LED light signature on the headlights, but now it's clear to see that BMW is also illuminating its signature kidney grille.

By the looks of it, the next-generation 5 series won't get the notoriously large kidney grille seen on the 4 series, XM and iX. Speaking of the latter, we expect the i5 to have a closed grille since it doesn't need openings for cooling down the sedan's running gear.

We're still left with very little information about the next-generation 5 series, and currently what we do know is that it will have plug-in hybrid variants as well as petrol and diesel engines with 48V mild hybrid technology.

Meanwhile, the i5 will be offered in two configurations: the single motor, rear-wheel drive eDrive40 with 335 PS, and the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive xDrive M60 with 590 PS.

BMW will reveal the 5 series on May 24 in Europe. Production in the Dingolfing, Germany factory will commence afterward, and sales are expected to start by October this year for global markets. As for the 5er fans in the Philippines, the next-generation model could arrive by 2024.

And in case you want a sneak peek of the all-new 5 Series undisguised, check out our article of a supposed sighting of the next-generation executive sedan.