More dynamic than ever, packed with digital innovations, with a spacious interior that exudes a premium feel and — in the form of the BMW i5, for the first time with an all-electric powertrain — the new BMW 5 Series reinforces its claim to leadership in the premium executive class. For the judges of the World Car Awards, it was the most notable newcomer in the field of luxury cars making their debut in global automotive markets over the past 12 months. The international panel of experts therefore gave the BMW 5 Series the crown of World Luxury Car 2024. The results were announced today at the start of the New York International Auto Show 2024 as part of a ceremony broadcast worldwide via streaming services.
The success of the BMW 5 Series was supported by reviews made during extensive test drives by the approximately 100 automotive journalists from 30 countries who were part of the judging panel. These reviews were then recorded in detail by the organizers of the World Car Awards. The BMW 5 Series withstood competition from a field of 13 new luxury cars and convinced the judges not only with the majestic power output of its portfolio of electrified internal combustion engines and the electric drive system, but also with its high level of comfort during long-distance drives and numerous digital innovations. “We are very pleased with this prestigious award. The verdict of the international jury shows that our characterful products with their typical BMW qualities convince and inspire discerning target groups around the world,” said Bernd Körber, Senior Vice President BMW Brand and Product Management, Connected Company.
BMW 5 Series: Consistent Electrification and Digital Innovations.
The BMW 5 Series demonstrates its forward-thinking character with its powertrain technology, innovative digital services and elegant sporty design, generous interior space, optimized acoustic comfort and progressive premium ambience for the interior. Advanced assistance systems such as the highway assistant and active lane assistant with eye confirmation emphasize the BMW 5 Series’ long-range qualities. With the display and operation/control system BMW iDrive with QuickSelect, the BMW Curved Display and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant with extensive functionality on board, the i5 is fully set up for user-vehicle interaction via touch controls and natural speech. When the car is stationary, BMW 5 Series occupants can explore the extensive video streaming offerings on the control display and enjoy a new form of in-vehicle gaming – for example, to take advantage of high-voltage battery charging time.
A fully integrated member of the new BMW 5 Series model range, the BMW i5 offers local emission-free driving pleasure. The driving dynamics and efficiency of the BMW i5 are based on the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. This consists of highly integrated drive units and high-voltage batteries with extremely high energy density. Moreover, the latest evolution of adaptive recuperation and an intelligent combination of heat pump technology for heating and cooling the interior, the drivetrain and the high-voltage battery help the car achieve a range of up to 582 kilometers (362 miles) in the WLTP cycle, depending on the model and specifications. The BMW i5’s combined charging unit allows AC charging up to 22 kW and DC charging up to 205 kW. This means that the vehicle’s range can be increased by up to 156 kilometers within just 10 minutes when connected to a fast charging station.
The full range of internal combustion engines is also electrified. Thanks to a flexibly designed drive architecture open to different technologies from the outset, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan can be offered for the first time as an all-electric model, with plug-in hybrid systems and with highly efficient gasoline and diesel engines. The combustion engines of the new modular generation of BMW Group Efficient Dynamics engines all feature the latest version of 48-volt mild hybrid technology.
BMW wins title number nine in the World Car Awards.
The World Car Awards were created 20 years ago to recognize outstanding innovations and new products in automotive markets worldwide in addition to national and regional awards. This year’s awards were presented in five categories, in addition to the overall prize.
Over the years, BMW has won the World Car Awards eight times. One of the winners was the BMW 7 Series, which was crowned World Luxury Car back in 2016. In 2018, the title of World Performance Car went to the BMW M5. This ninth title win for the Bavarian premium carmaker is the latest in a long line of awards that the new BMW 5 Series has collected in recent months. For example, the all-electric version has won a total of three “Car of the Year” awards in Norway, Denmark and Italy.