derBayerische July/August 2024 - 23

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entertains all with a delightful " welcome "
light show. When activated,
lights are projected from the door
handles to illuminate the entry path.
The kidney grill also lights up. That
light show continues inside, with
bold strips of light highlighting the
dashboard and the door panels.
The i5 lets the driver and the
vehicle become one. From the
uniquely shaped steering wheel with
a red leather " top center " stripe to the
instinctively located ergonomic
controls, once behind the steering
wheel, there is no mistaking that
you're in an ultimate performance
machine.
The G80's interior showcases
the Rolls-Royce influence. The very
cleverly integrated flush inside door
handles give the door panels a
smooth and modern look. The use
of wood, metal, soft plastics, glass,
and light provide a welcoming
ambience. When the roof sunshade
is open, the i5's interior has the look
and ambience of a roomy, comfortable,
and practical upscale European
living room, as if designed by the
best from classic and modern
Scandinavia.
■ A business-like driver's area.
B M W i 5 M 6 0
we've tested (i3, Mini EV, i4, iX, i7).
They've all been wonderful. Except
for the i3 and the iX, all the
BMW EVs provide the exact same
" ultimate " driving experience as do
their gasoline counterparts. And that
is the key differentiator between the
BMW EVs and the competition.
BMW intentionally designed and
engineered their vehicles to yield the
same, expected " ultimate " driving
experience, regardless of the
power/drivetrain.
However, the quote above from
■ You'd better have some time...
It's no secret that with each
generation, BMWs have become
larger. For the G80 5 Series, the
increased size is most noticeable in
the rear seating area and the trunk.
The trunk capacity is a little over 17
cubic feet, which increases to 60
cubic feet when the rear seats are
folded. And that is the key differentiator
between the BMW EVs
and competition. BMW intentionally
designed and engineered their
vehicles to yield the same expected
David E. Davis sums up the challenge
that all EVs face as they try to
conquer the American mass market.
We Americans are all about
" ultimate " driving experience,
regardless of the power/drivetrain.
As with the iX, we are NOT
allowed to open the hood! Having
once opened the hood of an i4, that
may be for the best!
In terms of driving, the i5
instantaneous acceleration and " jolt "
when you lift your foot off the accelerator
reminds you that you're in an
EV. Other than that, the i5 M60
drives just like an M5.
This is the SIXTH BMW EV that
freedom and choice. We don't like
being told what to do, how to live,
and what to drive. We like speed and
horsepower. Four-cylinder engines
became popular once they were
engineered to provide the same
performance driving experience that
we craved from V-8 engines.
And while welcomed, the significant
fuel economy savings is an
unacknowledged bonus.
Since the 1980's, EV advocates
have been showing the same data on
■ Spacious rear seating area.
July I August 2024
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derBayerische July/August 2024

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