Today marks a momentous occasion, the unveiling of the brand-new BMW M5 Touring.
These machines don’t roll off the production line every year. In fact, this is only the third M5 Touring ever to emerge from BMW’s factory, and it’s safe to say, everything about it is, well, enormous.
This beauty stretches nearly five meters long and two meters wide, with a cargo bay starting at 500 litres. But flip down the rear seats – though not entirely flat – and you unlock a cavernous 1,630-litre space that’s peppered with lashing points, perfect for securing all your gear.
Honestly, isn’t there something about the chunky, stocky shape of the Touring that wears those ‘M5’ upgrades better than the saloon?
Now, under the hood, this Touring naturally shares its hardware with the latest M5 saloon. It’s the first plug-in hybrid M5. The heart of this M5 Touring is a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 that churns out a respectable 577bhp. Yes, I know, it’s a bit down from the old M5’s V8, but BMW is keeping an eye on future emissions laws.
But then, the electric motor tucked into the gearbox comes to the rescue, boosting the total output to 717bhp and 1,000Nm of torque.
Sure, you could geek out over its acceleration stats; 0 to 100 in 3.6 seconds. And yes, the top speed can be pushed from 249km/h to 304km/h with the right options ticked.
But let’s be practical for a second – you’ve got your surfboard, your wind-foiling setup, and maybe even a jet ski hooked up to the trailer. No worries. The M5 Touring can also tow two tonnes.
Even when you’re not towing a weekend warrior’s dream behind you, the M5 Touring has plenty of heft.
With all-wheel drive that can be switched off, rear-wheel steering, adaptive suspension, an 18.6kWh battery, an electric tailgate, and no carbon roof (because BMW couldn’t source a supplier capable of making one long enough), it tips the scales at a staggering 2,560kg.
That’s Bentley Bentayga territory for the folks counting at home, complete with luggage.
That’s likely why the current Audi RS6 Performance, despite packing 100bhp less, is actually quicker off the line – a whole 0.2 seconds faster on the century sprint, thanks to being half a tonne lighter.
But here’s the real question: Would you rather be in the faster car, or would you prefer your neighbours not hate you for waking them up with V8 cold starts on a Sunday morning?
At least with the hybrid M5, you can maybe make a quiet escape.
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