With the latest 5 Series being unveiled recently, we were secretly expecting BMW M to come along not too long thereafter with their hotted up M5. And BOY didn’t they disappoint, because word from the good folks at M is that there will be an M5 Touring alongside its sedan sibling, both of which are under development.

Just like its sedan sibling, the M5 Touring will feature a completely new partially electrified drivetrain to meet emissions compliance. This is, of course, a stepping stone toward complete electrification. “We are now also installing a hybrid drive system with typical M performance in other high-performance cars,” says Dirk Häcker, Head of Development at BMW M GmbH.

This will represent the third M5 Touring since the M5 was first conceived. 1992 saw the first station-wagon or estate version, based on the second-generation M5 codenamed E34. 2007 saw the E61 as the second. We’ll soon find out if this current generation will be codenamed G60 or G61.

Testing of the first prototypes of the new BMW M5 Touring said is to commence in the next few days in urban traffic as well as on country roads and motorways around Munich and at the BMW M GmbH headquarters in Garching. And, for sure, testing will also be conducted on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife to fine tune its performance and handling.

BMW M enthusiasts rejoice!

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Better still, Singapore will be a key part of this new development. Renowned french tyre company Michelin is testing this new prototype technology locally, in partnership with DHL Express.

One of the biggest woes of motoring in Singapore is getting an unlucky puncture due to loose or sharp objects on the road. Unnecessary punctures can even lead to scenarios such as losing control of the vehicle or having to stop by the road shoulder due to a flat tyre.

Michelin, which aims to start marketing these futuristic puncture-proof tyres in 2024, is confident that motorists who use such tyres in the near future need not worry about these potential road hazards.

A teaser image of prototype tyres was shared on Facebook, fitted to a DHL Express delivery van. From the image, we can see that the tyres are puncture-proof because they are made with a grooved structure with slits running from the centre to the outer tyre wall, and do not use air to form their general structure.

This isn’t the first time Michelin has leaked prototypes of such tyres. Back in 2019, Michelin debuted a similar prototype tyre at a trade event in Montreal, Canada. Since then, Michelin must have tested these new compounds in various real-life conditions, and in different parts of the world during its development.

To make these tyres more environmentally friendly too, Michelin also said it will begin using recycled plastic materials in its new tyres starting in 2024. The biggest advantage these tyres have is that without the worry of punctures, these tyres can be used to their maximum lifespan, increasing overall longevity.

Michelin even conducted research between 2012 and 2015 and found that 20 per cent of all tyres scrapped annually were those that unfortunately fell ill to punctures or had uneven wear due to incorrect air pressure figures. 

So, would you make the switch to these new tyres? 

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(Photo Credits: The Straits Times)