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BMW has announced pricing and specifications for the highly anticipated M5 Touring and you'll be able to take the dogs for a brutal back road blast when it arrives here in Q1 2025.
There was no wagon version of the previous two M5 generations (F10 and F90) with the last example being the mid-2000s V10-powered ‘E60’. None were officially sold new in Australia, until now.
The seventh-generation M5 uses a twin-turbo V8 plug-in powertrain and is priced from $263,900, before on-road costs — a $4000 premium over the sedan.
It uses the same 4.4-litre V8 at its heart producing 430kW and 750Nm alone, with a 145kW/280Nm electric motor sitting before the transmission input shaft lifting total grunt to a staggering 535kW (717hp) and 1000Nm.
Helping get that power to the ground is an ‘xDrive’ all-wheel drive system tuned by the boffins at M, as well as an active rear differential. An eight-speed torque converter automatic is the only transmission.
The M5 Touring has extra stiffening pieces, including front and rear strut braces, an underfloor crossbar and other bracing elements in the load area. Double wishbone front and five-link rear suspension designs are matched with adaptive dampers and four-wheel steering.
With the 'M Driver’s Pack' (standard in Australia), the top speed is lifted from 250km/h to 305km/h. M Compound brakes are standard and ceramics are an $18,500 option.
However, for all its grunt the new M5 isn’t that fast, completing the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds in Touring guise (one tenth slower than the sedan) which is three tenths slower than the old non-hybrid M5 Competition.
Put that down to a lot of extra weight: the listed EU kerb weight of the wagon is a barely believable 2550kg (40kg more than sedan) which is more than a rear-wheel drive BMW iX xDrive 40 electric SUV.
That’s thanks to the 18.6kWh lithium-ion battery that gives the M5 Touring between 61-67km of electric-only driving range. BMW quotes a battery discharged economy figure of 10.9L/100km and the M5 Touring has a relatively small 60L tank.
Differentiating it from a regular 5 Series wagon are huge air intakes, new BMW M kidney grille with ‘iconic glow’ lighting, bespoke front and rear bumpers and flared guards. A staggered set of 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels complete the look.
Inside, it has a bespoke cabin from the regular 5 Series with bucket seats and all manner of driver-oriented settings that can be anchored to 'M Mode' buttons on the steering wheel.
The most important element of the M5 Touring compared to the sedan (in addition to the looks, of course) is the extra capacity. Unlike the four-door it gets 40/20/40 split-fold rear seats that means its 500L space can be increased to 1630L for bicycles, skis, flatpack furniture and whatever you can imagine.
Australian models feature some additional specification, including a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, heated and ventilated power adjustable 'M Multifunction' front seats, ‘Merino’ leather upholstery, dark silver and carbon fibre trim accents and a panoramic glass roof.
Technology is strong with twin 12.3-inch screens, rear sunblinds, an interior camera, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, wireless charging pad, Alcantara headliner, connected services and Mode 2 and 3 charging cables.
Adaptive LED headlights feature up front with carbon mirror caps, while metallic paintwork is standard. There are two optional colours at launch: 'Storm Bay' ($4100) and matt 'Frozen Deep Grey' ($7100).
Australian deliveries of the M5 Touring will commence in the first quarter of next year after production kicks off in January at BMW’s Dingolfing plant, north-east of Munich.
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