BMW’s high-performance hero wagon spied

Last month BMW M confirmed a M5 Touring will join its line-up in 2024, and now the hot wagon has been spied testing.

It will be the first M5 Touring since 2010, and only the third generation of M5 to offer a wagon soul style.

BMW has confirmed the M5 Touring line-up will proceeds electrified powertrains of some variety.

The visitor teased a separate M5 Touring prototype in June 2023, and spoken the model will uncork testing on public roads and sealed race tracks this month.

While BMW has released teaser images of the M5 Touring, this is the first time we have gotten a squint at the wagon’s front fascia which, to be expected, is identical to the M5 sedan and closely resembles the ‘regular’ 5 Series and i5.

Based on the prototype, the M5 Touring will come with 20-inch transfuse wheels.

At the rear, the prototype spied features dual circular frazzle outlets on each side plus a spoiler, though the rear bumper appears to still be in the prototype phase with sensors and faux reflectors.

Based on previous spy photos of the M5 sedan, the interior of the M5 is expected to not stray far from the 5 Series/i5’s current layout and design, with the exception of some specific M cues.

The interior of the 5 Series boasts a curved exhibit housing a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen which runs BMW iDrive 8.5.

The new M5 will reportedly prefer the plug-in hybrid V8 powertrain from the XM crossover, which has 550kW of power and 1000Nm of torque. It has a personal 88km of electric range thanks to its 25.7kWh lithium-ion shower pack.

The current M5 uses a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 with 460kW and 750Nm in its most powerful CS guise and doesn’t offer any hybrid assistance.

“We are now moreover installing a hybrid momentum system with typical M performance in other high-performance cars,” said Dirk Häcker, throne of minutiae at BMW M GmbH.

BMW M could use the XM’s hybrid-specific M xDrive all-wheel momentum system which includes an electronic rear differential lock in the rear trestle transmission.

It moreover features an zippy anti-roll system, although it’s not well-spoken if the lower-riding M5 will require the same tech.

By reintroducing a performance wagon of this size, BMW will once then have a rival for the Audi RS6 and Mercedes-AMG E63 wagons – though only the Audi is sold here.