The Bmw M5 Touring returns, it's the 'baddest' one ever

After 14 years, Bmw is reintroducing the M5 Touring, the sportiest of the Munich brand's station wagons as standard, as well as the third in the medium's 40 years on the market, recently also introduced in a battery-powered version. One of the priorities will be to offer an alternative in family mode to the numerous top suvs on the market. The starting point is the new 5 Touring, compared to which it is slightly longer and wider at track level by 75 mm at the front and 48 mm at the rear. Both front and rear bumpers are replaced by aerodynamic elements with a spoiler, splitter and side skirts.

The baddest look ever is completed by twin exhaust tailpipes in black chrome and large alloy wheels. Like the exterior, the interior of the new M5 Touring is based on the nomal version, but with details of a sporting DNA: leather upholstery for the seats and dashboard, the steering wheel with a thicker crown than usual and flattened at the bottom to which customisable buttons are added to recall the driving modes. The infotainment system features a 14.9-inch and 12.3-inch instrument display plus head-up.

Finally, the boot capacity is reduced compared to that of the base 5 Series Touring, from a minimum of 500 litres to a maximum of 1,630 litres. Assuming the car is then used to carry an additional load on the roof, the new M5 Touring is expected to be a maximum of 100 kg, while it will be able to tow a trailer weighing up to 2,000 kg. In the underbody, finally, a package of structural steel stiffeners has been installed, front and rear, which ensure both a very rigid connection of the steering to the chassis and a 1.5 degree rear connection.

The powertrain of the new M5 Touring features the further enhanced M Hybrid plug-in package, as the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 now delivers 585 hp and 750 Nm of torque, while the electric motor integrated in the eight-speed M Steptronic gearbox adds a further 197 hp and 450 Nm with the system output being 727 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque. The 18.6 kWh battery enables a range of 61 to 67 km in electric mode, adding to its level of performance with 3.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 250 km/h or 305 km/h if the additional M Driver's Package is fitted.

The 8-speed M Steptronic gearbox is mated to the M all-wheel drive with variable distribution and active differential with torque vectoring. The new M5 Touring offers active suspension as standard, as well as a steered rear axle and a sports braking system with dual sensitivity adjustment, combined with 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch wheels at the rear. Carbon-ceramic brakes, forged wheels and M Performance carbon fibre details for the bodywork are also included, adding to the customised paint and interior trim options available in the extensive Individual catalogue.