BMW is gearing up to deliver a new set of electric vehicles for the coming years. On their latest announcements, the 530e iPerformance shines as the newest addition, following their 330e, 740e, and X5 xDrive40e models.
The 2018 530e will be as fast as the 530i, says the automaker. The new hybrid will become a part of the ‘5 series’ lineup by next spring.
BMW is keeping the classic interior and design which are currently the trademark for these cars, as a way to allure customers into purchasing an electric car that still screams luxury.
Many online sources dedicated to the automobile industry are putting Tesla and BMW in the same field as close competitors, but the German giant currently lacks an entirely electric setup for its cars.
2018 BMW 530e specs and engine
The 530e comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that goes as far as 180 regarding horsepower, with approximately 215 lb-ft of torque.
As a hybrid, it also holds a 9.5 kWh battery alongside a 95hp electric motor, for a total performance output of 248hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.
Customers will be able to choose between a rear wheel or all-wheel drive model, both of them sporting an automatic transmission with eight speeds. A manual variant is not available, as of yet.
The above specs allow the car to reach an estimated top speed of 130 mph (209 km/h), with an acceleration close to 6.1 seconds for a 0-60 sprint.
The car takes seven hours (approximately) to recharge from a 120V home outlet and only three hours from a 240V. Details concerning fuel economy or driving yet are not out officially.
BMW 5 Series Design and features
The 530e stands out by putting the charging socket at the front and dividing its power between the main engine below the hood and the high-voltage battery located beneath the rear seats.
Design-wise, the 530e benefits a lot from blue. The car has blue kidney grille slats, blue wheel hub covers and a highly stylish interior combining both blue, gray, and black.
The front panel also includes BMW’s trademark 10.25-ich iDrive display with optional gesture control technology, more trunk space, and a flat load compartment floor.
The car packs many semi-autonomous drive features including Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Side Collision Avoidance, and Adaptive Cruise Control.
2018 BMW 530e expected price and release date
BMW has stated that an official price will come with the launch date, which is somewhere in the spring of 2017. Eager users can expect it to spend around $60,000 for a model with no extra perks, judging for its predecessors’ pricetag.
Source: Motortrends