BMW M5 Touring

A super wagon boasting performance on par with a sedan

The high-performance M5, based on the BMW 5 Series, is now in its seventh generation since the E28S was released in 1985. In the meantime, there are two other models in the lineup, the E34S in 1992 and the E61 in 2007, that remain incredibly popular to this day: the M5 Touring. While production of the previous model has been discontinued for 14 years, it was equipped with a 5.0-liter V10 engine and only a little over 1,000 were ever produced, making it a coveted car for car enthusiasts in Germany.

The new model, with the internal codename “G99,” is the M5 Touring’s first revival since the E61 model, and is attracting a lot of attention in Germany, its largest market. Its overall length of 5096mm, wheelbase of 3006mm, and width of 1970mm are the same as the M5 Sedan. At just 1516mm tall, the new M5 Touring is 6mm taller than the sedan, giving it an even more imposing and powerful look.

The powertrain is the same as the M5 sedan, with a twin-turbo V8 and electric motor.

The front and side designs are the same as the sedan, with a special trapezoid-emphasizing front bumper, a large kidney grille, side air intakes that emphasize the width, and front and rear fenders that are wider by a total of 70mm on both sides, creating a powerful stance.

Also, like the sedan, it does not have an air blazer just behind the front fender, but the aerodynamics and cooling have been meticulously calculated. The M5 Touring also has the same “every hole has some kind of function,” including the retractable M-exclusive kidney grille. Around the rear, the bumper shape is the same as the sedan, but the gently curved tailgate creates a more impressive rear view than the sedan. The sedan has a more nimble feel, but the Touring has a more powerful image.

The new M5 Touring’s powertrain is also a plug-in hybrid. It combines a 4.4-liter V8 twin-turbo engine that produces 585 PS and 750 Nm with an electric motor that produces 197 PS and 280 Nm, for a total system output of 727 PS and 1000 Nm. It’s a high-performance 4WD wagon.

The vehicle weight is 2,475 kg, which is 40 kg heavier than the M5 sedan, which has increased by about 500 kg from the previous model, but it has an acceleration performance of 3.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and 11.1 seconds from 0 to 200 km/h, which is 0.1 seconds and 0.2 seconds slower than the sedan, respectively. The maximum speed is normally limited at 250 km/h, but with the M Driver’s Package, it is increased to 305 km/h. Unless you are driving at the limit on a circuit, you should hardly notice the difference.

M multi-function seats that emphasize a sense of unity with the car

In fact, the driving experience of the Touring, which I switched from the sedan to, was extremely dynamic, and I didn’t even notice the 40kg weight increase. When I drove the prototype on the circuit this spring, I was conscious of the weight when cornering, but on the winding roads on the outskirts of Munich where I test drove this time, I enjoyed a thrilling, sporty ride.

In particular, in Dynamic mode and Dynamic+ mode, the Adaptive M Suspension, Active M Differential, and Integral Active Steering, which steers the rear wheels by up to 1.5 degrees, come into full effect, creating a wonderful harmony between the rhythm of acceleration and deceleration and the steering response and precision, making me so engrossed in driving that I lost track of time.

Despite its sporty feel, the suspension is very supple, providing a ride that’s hard to believe is a top-performance model. The transition between the engine and electric motor is also extremely smooth.

A spacious luggage compartment that is sufficient for outdoor sports and leisure activities

Although it looks flashy, it is comfortable enough for daily use. The Touring model in particular has a luggage capacity of 500L when carrying five people, and a maximum of 1630L, making it suitable for leisure activities such as skiing and camping.

Furthermore, the new model is a plug-in hybrid vehicle that can travel up to 67km in WLTP mode and up to 140km/h in EV mode, so it is possible to drive it in a way that does not use gasoline at all.

Few cars in the world offer such a sense of versatility, and the new M5 Touring is set to be a US market debutant, where it’s sure to be met with acclaim.

REPORT/Toshimi TAKEHANA

PHOTO/BMW AG.

MAGAZINE/ GENROQ January 2025 issue

SPECIFICATIONS

BMW M5 Touring

Body size: Length 5096, Width 1970, Height 1516mm

Wheelbase: 3006mm

Vehicle weight: 2550kg

Engine: V8 DOHC twin turbo

Total displacement: 4395cc

Maximum output: 430kW (585PS) / 5600-6500rpm

Maximum torque: 750Nm (76.5kgm) / 1800-5400rpm

Motor maximum output: 145kW (197PS) / 6000rpm

Motor maximum torque: 280Nm (28.6kgm) / 1000-5000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed DCT

Drive system: AWD

Suspension type: Front double wishbone, rear multi-link

Brakes: Front and rear ventilated discs

Acceleration from 0 to 100km/h: 3.6 seconds

Top speed: 305km/h

[Inquiries]

BMW Customer Interaction Center

TEL 0120-269-437
https://www.bmw.co.jp/

Related reading

It’s now more than just a “high-performance sedan”; it’s a “hyper sedan”! Test drive the “BMW M5”

By combining the acclaimed 4.4-liter V8 twin-turbo with a motor, the new M5 achieves an astounding system output of 727 PS/1000 Nm. Now converted to a plug-in hybrid, the driving pleasure seems to have been further refined. (Reprinted and re-edited from the December 2024 issue of GENROQ)