You’re late for work. You hurriedly grab your bag, phone and keys to dart out the front door, in panic mode knowing you’re going to get stuck in rush-hour traffic.
And just as you go to unlock the car doors, you realise your kids are in there. And what they’re doing is playing a racing game against one another before they head off to school, delaying you further as you usher them out of the front seats so you can get on your way.
That will soon become a very likely scenario for drivers who buy BMW’s latest model, which has a unique feature that turns its new premium £50,000 family motor into a games console…
This is the new BMW 5 Series. And it has an interesting new feature that will keep kids – and big kids – occupied…
Its huge infotainment screen can become a games console. Passengers can even link their smartphones to use as the controllers to compete against each other. However, there is one major restriction for the feature…
This month, the German car giant unveiled the eighth generation of its executive 5 Series saloon.
And – for the first time – it has an electric sibling in the shape of the zero-emission i5 variant – though at a premium price tag, which we will get to later.
Longer, wider, taller and with an increased wheelbase and enhanced road presence compared to its predecessor, bosses promise the 5 Series will deliver improved seating comfort and legroom (especially in the rear) as it continues to do battle with Mercedes’ popular E-Class and Audi’s A6.
But another big selling point for BMW customers – and their kids – will be a unique feature that turns the car into a games console.
A deal with AirConsole means passengers can play games on the huge digital display – but only while the vehicle is stationary, for obvious safety reasons. Users can pair their smartphone to become a controller by scanning a QR code displayed
BMW says it is a useful feature for the electric i5 version in particular, with users able to play against one another to occupy their time while the vehicle is charging
The cars will be loaded with 15 games available initially. Both rear and front passengers can compete or team up to play racing, sports, quiz, simulation, strategy, and puzzle games
It is built into the infotainment system in the massive curved central dashboard screen.
A deal with AirConsole means driver and passengers can play games on the huge digital display – but only while the vehicle is stationary, for obvious safety reasons.
It allows passengers to play against each other head-to-head at the same time using their phones as controllers.
BMW says it is a useful feature for the electric i5 version in particular, with users able to play against one another to occupy their time while the vehicle is charging.
That said, owners of the new i5 won’t be spending too much time at a public charger, based on the figures being claimed by the car giant.
It says the range-topping i5 comes with 22kW AC charging (up from the standard 11kW), meaning the battery can be topped up to 80 per cent in 30 minutes with DC up to 205kW. Just 10 minutes on charge will add up to 97 miles of range, the brand states.
The portfolio of existing titles loaded into the 5 Series and i5 system includes ‘Go Kart Go’, ‘Golazo’, ‘Music Guess’ and ‘Overcooked’
BMW explains: ‘Players’ smartphones act as a controller, with the connection established by scanning a QR code on the curved display. ‘With instant delivery of games over-the-air, players can start playing right away.’
The cars will be loaded with 15 games available initially.
Both rear and front passengers can compete or team up to play racing, sports, quiz, simulation, strategy, and puzzle games.
The portfolio of existing titles currently includes ‘Go Kart Go’, ‘Golazo’, ‘Music Guess’ and ‘Overcooked’.
However, AirConsole boasts over 190 different games, and BMW is likely to add more via software updates – though there is no confirmation of whether these will need to be purchased.
BMW explains: ‘Players’ smartphones act as a controller, with the connection established by scanning a QR code on the curved display.
‘With instant delivery of games over-the-air, players can start playing right away.’
What do we know about the 5 Series and i5 so far?
Three versions will be available from launch – two electric variants and a traditional petrol – though significantly no diesel option will be offered in the UK (though will be sold elsewhere in Europe).
Also in the pipeline to arrive in the UK next year are plug-in hybrid versions and a 5-series ‘Touring’ estate.
The electric i5 is the Munich-based car-firm’s response to rivals including the Mercedes-Benz EQE, Tesla’s Model S and the forthcoming Audi A6 e-tron saloon (you can read more about the Audi in our first segment on new models to keep an eye on in 2023).
With customer deliveries beginning from October 2023, pricing for the four-door BMW 5 Series range starts from £49,850.
However, if you want the electric i5, you will need to stump up an extra £23,350, with prices starting from £73,200.
The two battery powered saloons start with the rear-wheel drive 340 horsepower BMW i5 eDrive40, offering a range of up to 361-miles. Accelerating from 0-to-62mph in six seconds, it can hit a top speed of 120mph.
The more powerful – and more expensive – 601hp all-wheel drive BMW i5 M60 xDrive promises ‘scintillating performance’ and acceleration from rest to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds up to a to speed electronically limited to 143mph and with a range of up to 320 miles.
The rear motor generates 340hp, while the smaller front motor produces 261hp. But for that you will pay from £96,840. And just a few must-have extras will quickly push the final tally over £100,000.
Both electric versions have an 81.2kWh battery and also feature a shift paddle marked ‘Boost’ near the left steering wheel spoke.
BMW explained: ‘If the paddle is pulled for more than 0.8 seconds, a Sport Boost indicator appears on the information display, and maximum acceleration is triggered by the accelerator pedal.’
At the same time, the drive sound changes to a sportier mode.
Three versions will be available from launch – two electric variants and a traditional petrol – though significantly no diesel option will be offered in the UK (though will be sold elsewhere in Europe). Pictured: the petrol 5 Series
With customer deliveries beginning from October 2023, pricing for the four-door BMW 5 Series range starts from £49,850. However, if you want the electric i5 (pictured), you will need to stump up an extra £23,350, with prices starting from £73,200
Longer, wider, taller and with an increased wheelbase and enhanced road presence compared to its predecessor, bosses promise the 5 Series will deliver improved seating comfort and legroom (especially in the rear)
The conventional 520i petrol version priced from £49,850 is powered by a turbo-charged 2.0-litre four-cylinder mild hybrid engine linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox that propels it from rest to 62mph in 7.5 seconds up to a top speed of 143mph. CO2 emissions are between 130 and 144g/km.
Boot space in the rear luggage compartment ranges from 490 litres on the electric i5 to 520 litres on petrol models. That means both have a smaller boot capacity than on the outgoing 5 Series.
The hi-tech dashboard continues the move away from physical controls with a double screen instrument panel.
Driver dials are shown on a 12.3-inch – display while a larger curved 14.9-inch central infotainment system dominates the rest of the dash.
There’s also an intriguingly named ‘Interaction Bar’, which sounds like a trendy if rather louche nightspot in Berlin, but is actually a thin backlit control panel – for adjusting ventilation and seats – running the width of the dashboard and into the front doors.
A small toggle gear selector sits on the tidied-up centre console and controls the infotainment settings.
Sadly, British motorists won’t get a look-in at one piece of clever hi-tech which – in a world first – allows the driver to change lanes automatically simply by looking into a mirror.
Though the ‘Active Lane Change System’ will be available to buyers in Germany, the US and Canada, it cannot be activated in UK-supplied models.
The system scans the road ahead and suggests when the driver should change lanes – such as if gaining on a vehicle in front which is driving at a slower speed – by giving a visual alert on the screen behind the steering wheel.
The driver confirms the manoeuvre by glimpsing in the direction of the wing mirror which signals the vehicle to take over the steering to carry it out. It works at speeds of up to 85mph and can be turned on or off.
BMW said: ’The Active Lane Change System takes over the necessary steering movements automatically, the traffic situation permitting.’
While the smart tech constitutes an impressive step forward for automated cruising at a time when ever more elements of autonomous driving are being introduced as driver aides, it isn’t suitable for UK roads until ministers give it a legal thumbs up from use.
The hi-tech dashboard continues the move away from physical controls with a double screen instrument panel. Driver dials are shown on a 12.3-inch – display while a larger curved 14.9-inch central infotainment system dominates the rest of the dash
The 5 Series features all-new vegan leather-free interior materials using a leather-like fabric called Veganza on the seats, dashboard and door panels – though real Merino leather upholstery is available as an option
Sadly, British motorists won’t get a look-in at one piece of clever hi-tech which – in a world first – allows the driver to change lanes automatically simply by looking into a mirror. The ‘Active Lane Change System’ is not currently legal for use in the UK…
Elsewhere, the 5 Series features all-new vegan leather-free interior materials using a leather-like fabric called Veganza on the seats, dashboard and door panels – though real Merino leather upholstery is available as an option.
Wheels sizes vary from 18 to 21-inch, depending on model and spec.
And there’s a new optional panoramic glass roof – a first for a 5 Series saloon. It covers almost the entire ceiling panel, stretching 841mm from just behind the windscreen almost to the rear window – it’s nearly 90 per cent larger than the sunroof of its predecessor.
BMW said: ‘The new generation of the world’s most successful business saloon also intensifies its commitment to sustainability, significantly reducing its carbon footprint by 20 to 25 per cent in the supply chain, and up to 58 per cent across its life cycle compared to its predecessor.’
It added: ‘The BMW 5 Series Saloon range will further expand in early 2024 with the introduction of the BMW 530e and BMW 550e xDrive plug-in hybrid models, which are expected to offer an electric range of 49 to 56 miles and 54 to 62 miles respectively.
‘Also set to join the model family in spring 2024 is the next generation of the BMW 5 Series Touring, which will also be available with all-electric drive for the first time, as well as with plug-in hybrid drive and pure combustion engine drive.’
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk