General News
25 August, 2024
Ballistic BMW M5 on its way
THE first BMW M5 wagon in 15 years returns to Australia early next year.
The new offering marks the third time BMW M has offered a ‘Touring’ variant of the legendary M5 but the first time it has featured an electrified powertrain.
Its arrival in Australia follows this year’s introduction of another rapid Touring variant that also wears an M badge – the fully electric, 442kW i5 M60 xDrive Touring – and last year’s launch of the critically acclaimed M3 Touring.
The all-new M5 Touring will be the third BMW M model in the current line-up to feature the M HYBRID system following deployment in its sedan sibling and the BMW XM.
The M HYBRID system aboard the M5, derived from the BMW M Hybrid World Endurance Championship (WEC) racecar, delivers thundering power and torque figures of 535kW and 1000Nm.
The 4.4-litre M TwinPower Turbo V8 develops 430kW and 750Nm while also being capable of spinning to 7200rpm. The maximum output of the electric motor – integrated in the transmission – is 145kW with nominal torque of 280Nm, though a pre-gearing stage enables effective torque at the transmission input to be increased to 450Nm.
BMW says the new M5 Touring can accelerate from rest to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds, while Australian-delivered models will achieve a top speed of 305km/h due to the offering of M Driver’s Package as standard equipment.
“The sports exhaust system of the new BMW M5 Touring integrates electrically controlled, continuously adjustable flaps to provide a sonorous note that is channelled through four tailpipes, each measuring 100mm in diameter,” a BMW Australia spokesman said. “A distinctive styling package accompanies the power delivery and engaging performance of the new BMW M5 Touring. It includes muscular wheel arch and side skirt extensions, a sculptural front apron and aerodynamically shaped M rear spoiler in a high-gloss black finish.”
The M5 Touring is priced from $263,900 plus on-roads.
