An invitation from the organization of the Carioti Cupthe hill climb valid for the Italian and European Mountain Speed Championships, gave us the opportunity to travel along the state road 4 bis, which connects Rieti to Monte Terminillo, in a closed road regime and with a high number of protections built for the competition. 13.5 kilometers of road with a gradient of over 7.5% (1030 meters of altitude difference), an infinite number of curves, a few hairpin bends and two straights: a test drive which has been added to what we have achieved in daily use both in the city and in transfers, with our BMW i5 M Touring.
On the streets of Rome, despite its size, the car has always proven to be at ease, both in traffic and in parking lots. It was enough to report the license plate to the Municipality to have access to the ZTL and free parking on the blue lines. After all, this sports family represents the latest jewel of the Bavarian house in the segment of electric cars high-end. A station wagon capable of combining elegance, sporty performance and sustainability. Thanks above all to a EV engine capable of delivering over 600 horsepowerensuring impressive acceleration and a smooth ride. The 100 kWh battery offers aautonomy of approximately 500 km.
Inside the cockpit, what strikes you is the light provided by the roof panoramic, the quality of the materials, fabrics and their combinations. So much technology then, with the iDrive 8.5 system and the curved display made up of two screens: a 12.3” instrument panel and a 14.9” central screen dedicated to infotainment.
We started our test drive in the heart of Rome, an urban environment challenging the capabilities of a car 5,063 mm long and 1,902 mm wide (without mirrors). The capital’s traffic highlighted the fluidity and comfort of the electric guidewith absolute silence and no vibrations. Crossing the narrow streets of the historic center, the i5 M Touring demonstrated aagility unexpected, despite the above mentioned dimensions.
With 17% battery remaining and 82 kilometers of range, we reached a service station ultrafast charging. The battery was able to absorb over 210.2 kW of charge right away. The time needed to bring the battery at 100% of electrons was of 44 minutes. Back behind the wheel, we had the opportunity to test the features of driving assistance and to the parking of the BMW i5 M Touring. The system autonomous driving Level 2 has proven to be efficient in traffic, maintaining a safe distance and managing speed autonomously. The automatic parkingalthough it requires a little more space than “manual” parking.
With 88% battery we leave Rome for Rieti. On the highway we have the opportunity to experience acceleration for the first time, covering the canonical 0/100km/h in less than 4”. All this without giving up the comfortwith ergonomic seats that transform into “sports” ones by closing like a shell when the sports driving mode is selected. Once we reached Rieti, we headed towards the base of the 4Bis state road. Once all the safety checks by the organization were completed, the start was given for the climb.
Here, the BMW i5 M Touring It once again demonstrated its sporty character, taking curves with millimetric precision and a estate very convincing road, also thanks to the center of gravity low. The adaptive suspension M Professional, combined with the active steering integral, they then guaranteed a maneuverability out of the ordinary, even in the most challenging sections of the route towards Terminillo.
The system of all wheel drive has always guaranteed safety, while the brakes have always assisted impeccably, without ever showing signs of overheating, allowing exaggerated decelerations in view of the hairpin bends and chicanes. Worthy of special mention, then, the booster which “pumped” every push on the accelerator at the exit of the hairpin bends and provided an unexpected verve in the steepest points of the climb, making us forget the considerable weight of the car: almost 2400 kg. A dynamic drive in short, which took us to the finish line in about 9.30” minutes, at an average speed of over 80 km/h. A result obtained by consuming about 25% of the autonomy. Returning to Rome, travelling along the Consolare at normal speed, the consumption drop dramatically: only 12 kWh for 90 kilometers.
There BMW i5 M Touring It has therefore proved to be a travel companion capable of adapting to the needs of urban driving but also of tackling the most challenging routes with determination. Among its strong points are its power, autonomy and construction quality, which make it an appropriate choice for those looking for a car luxury electric without compromise. All this, however, comes at a cost: the list starts at just over 106 thousand euros.
