BMW i5 To Get Improved Battery And Optional Passenger Screen

Key Takeaways

Reports suggest BMW i5 will receive battery updates & motor improvements next year, likely improving range.
Updated i5/5 Series said to offer optional passenger display with iDrive X operating system.
No power increases predicted for now.

Unconfirmed reports have emerged claiming that the recently introduced BMW i5 – the all-electric version of the 5 Series – will soon be getting battery updates and electric motor improvements. According to a Bimmerpost forum entry from reliable source ynguldyn, an update coming in March next year will bring “improvements to the batteries and/or motors,” but power output will remain the same.

This may be no more than a software update, but it should result in more efficiency and, therefore, more range. For the record, the current i5 produces between 335 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque in entry-level US spec up to 590 hp and a maximum of 605 lb-ft in the range-topping M60 xDrive models. What won’t be available over the air is the rumored optional passenger display.

iDrive X

The same forum entry claims that the 5 Series and its all-electric sibling will both get access to the option of a screen for the front passenger. If so, the updated 5er will get the new iDrive X operating system, which brings the Panoramic Vision full-width head-up display previewed by the Neue Klasse concepts. Supplementary screens for the passenger were first popularized by Ferrari on cars like the 812 Superfast and GTC4Lusso.

New BMW Head-Up Display Will Span The Entire Width Of The Windscreen

BMW’s next-generation Neue Klasse cars are determined to help you keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

These screens initially only gave readouts of vehicle info but have evolved to become interfaces that the passenger can use to control infotainment and navigation systems. As they have grown in popularity, their capabilities have expanded, in some cases allowing the passenger to watch videos while the driver focuses on the road. It’s unclear how this will be integrated into the i5/5 Series cabin design, but the current Curved Display is simply perched atop the dash, so it shouldn’t be difficult.

Other BMW EV Updates Next Year

The BMW iX will soon outmuscle the i5 if recent reports are anything to go by. In 2025, the all-electric SUV will reportedly be facelifted and updated to keep it fresh until it leaves production in 2028. When that happens, the base model will be boosted from 516 hp to 535 hp, while the M60 xDrive model will become the M70 xDrive, advancing from 610 hp in its current guise to 650 hp for the new year. Of course, if you must have a 5er with the ultimate bragging rights, you could wait for the new M5. Based on what we know so far, it’ll be worth your patience.