BMW M5 Touring returns as PHEV
- BMW brought the M5 Touring back as a plug-in hybrid wagon and, for the first time, is selling an M5 wagon in the United States. - The big number is 717 hp and 738 lb-ft, from a twin-turbo V8 plus electric motor, with about 25 miles of EV range. - It matters because BMW turned its flagship super-sedan into a heavier, more usable halo car—then aimed it straight at the U.S. wagon niche.
The new M5 Touring is BMW doing two things at once. It brought back the fast wagon version of the M5, and it turned that car into a plug-in hybrid. That matters because the M5 has always been the brand’s “you can have everything” car — speed, luxury, daily usability — and now BMW is testing whether buyers will accept extra weight in exchange for more power, some electric driving, and way more real-world versatility. In the U.S., the bigger shift is simpler: Americans finally get an M5 wagon at all. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### What is the M5 Touring, exactly? It’s the wagon version of BMW’s latest M5, known internally as the G99. BMW has only done an M5 wagon a few times before, and this is the first one officially sold in the U.S. market. So this is not just a body-style variation — it’s BMW deciding there are enough American buyers now for a six-figure performance wagon. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### Why is the hybrid part such a big deal? Because the old M5 formula was easy to explain: big engine, big power, big speed. The new one adds a battery and electric motor to the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, creating what BMW calls an M Hybrid system. In U.S. spec, that means 717 hp and 738(press.bmwgroup.com)te about an M5 but basically the whole point of the redesign. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### Does it still feel like an M5? On paper, yes. BMW says the Touring hits 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, which is deep super-sedan territory for a wagon with a big cargo area and five seats. The setup also keeps xDrive all-wheel drive and the adjustable rear-biased character BMW buyers expect. So the mission did not change — the car still exists to be absurdly fast while carrying luggage, kids, or both. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### So what’s the catch? Weight. The Touring comes in at about 5,530 pounds in U.S. spec. That is enormous for something wearing an M5 badge. Reviewers have basically landed in the same place: the straight-line pace is not the problem, but the mass is impossible to ignore once the road (press.bmwgroup.com)g a whole second personality around with it. (edmunds.com) ### Why sell it in America now? Because the U.S. has become one of the few places where expensive performance wagons can work as image cars. The Audi RS6 Avant proved there’s a real audience for a long-roof supercar-adjacent family hauler. BMW is stepping into that lane with a car that is even more of a statement — part old-school V8 monster, part electrified flagship. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### Is BMW treating it like a halo car? Very much so. The base U.S. price is $121,500 before destination, which already puts it in rare-air territory. Then BMW layers on the Individual program, where buyers can spec unusual paints like Rosso Corsa. That does two jobs at once — it boosts margins, and it turns the car into something people post, talk about, and configure like a collectible. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### Why does this matter beyond one wagon? Because this is BMW’s answer to a problem a lot of performance brands now have. Emissions rules and electrification push cars toward hybrid systems, but enthusiasts still want theater — noise, speed, identity. The M5 Touring is BMW trying to square that circle with one car. More power, more practicality, more complexity, and yes, more mass. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### Bottom line? The new M5 Touring is not a purist’s lightweight fantasy. It’s a 717-hp plug-in hybrid wagon built for the real world BMW thinks wealthy enthusiasts actually live in. Turns out that world wants one car that can do everything — even if “everything” now includes charging it. (press.bmwgroup.com)
