BMW China unveiled the redesigned versions of its top-selling 5 Series on Watch Gun Hill OnlineThursday, featuring a spacious 31-inch 8K rear screen and eye-motivated driver assistance tech. The model is tailored to meet the growing demand for in-car digital services among tech-savvy local customers. The China-spec 5 Series, part of the eighth generation of BMW’s midsize sedan lineup, boasts a roomier space with a 3.1-meter wheelbase, compared to the global model’s 2,995-millimeter wheelbase. The infotainment system addresses local needs with services like a voice-operated WeChat version, app downloading, and video streaming from Huawei and Baidu-affiliated iQiyi. The luxury sedan, equipped with a large, high-resolution, floating screen for rear passengers, introduces an assisted driving function allowing lane changes with eye confirmation via the outside mirror. BMW notes the sedan is technically prepared for Level 3 autonomous driving, permitting drivers to divert attention from the road and hands from the wheel in specific conditions. This development follows BMW’s announcement of localizing research and development for L3 technology in China in July. Prices for both the i5, the series’ first all-electric model, and its gasoline variant start at RMB 439,900 ($61,278). [BMW release]
