MUNICH: The new BMW M5 Touring will celebrate its world premiere at Monterey Car Week in California, followed by market launch in November.
The car, now a plug-in hybrid, will be built at BMW's plant in Dingolfing, some 100km from Munich.
Note that BMW had released two M5 wagons before. It had one in the 1992 E34 generation and another in the 2007 E61 generation.
The new M5 Touring is designed to emphasize high-performance with a distinct racing-inspired character. It features a clean, purist look with extensive body-coloured surfaces and a Black solid roof finish.
The car stands out with flared wheel arches, muscular shoulders, and a long roofline, distinguishing it from the 5 Series Touring.
The front end is characterised by large air intakes and a redesigned M kidney grille, highlighted by standard BMW Iconic Glow contour lighting.
At the rear, slim lights, vertical reflectors, and a two-section diffuser with dual exhausts underscore the vehicle's width and powerful stance.
The M Hybrid drive system integrates a 4.4-litre V8 engine with an electric motor housed within an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission.
The V8 engine generates 430 kW/585hp and 750Nm of torque, while the electric motor, part of BMW's fifth-generation eDrive technology, adds an additional 145 kW/197 hp, with effective torque reaching 450Nm.
The combined power ensures rapid response and a seamless power delivery, allowing the vehicle to reach a top speed of 250kph, which can be increased to 305kph with the optional M Driver’s Package.
The M5 Touring can run on electric power alone up to 140kph, with a battery providing an electric range of 61km to 67km.
The vehicle's chassis technology includes a double-wishbone front axle and a five-link rear axle, with model-specific kinematics.
Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers is standard, enhancing both ride comfort and dynamic handling.
The M xDrive all-wheel-drive system and Active M Differential are tuned for performance, offering selectable 4WD, 4WD Sport, and 2WD modes.
The M Compound brakes provide strong stopping power, with an option for M Carbon ceramic brakes. The vehicle comes with 20-inch front and 21-inch rear M light-alloy wheels, fitted with high-performance tyres.
Driver assistance features in the BMW M5 Touring include front collision warning, Lane Departure Warning with steering assistance, and Speed Limit Info.
Optional features include Driving Assistant Professional and Parking Assistant Professional, which allows parking via smartphone.
Inside, the M5 Touring offers a sports-car-inspired cockpit with M-specific displays, M leather steering wheel, and M multifunction seats.
The cabin includes Merino leather trim, BMW Curved Display, four-zone automatic climate control, and a premium Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
The load capacity ranges from 500 to 1,630 litres, and Comfort Access with automatic tailgate operation is standard. The maximum trailer load for the optional trailer coupling is 2,000kg.
The vehicle also supports advanced connectivity options like BMW iDrive with Operating System 8.5, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration, and features a 5G antenna system.
