2024 BMW M5 Touring

BMW is getting back into the M5 wagon game with an all-new BMW M5 Touring wagon, and best of all, it's coming to the USA. Based on the G60-generation BMW 5 Series, itself built on BMW's CLAR platform, the new M5 Touring will wear the G99 chassis code. As the third M5 Touring in BMW's history (notwithstanding the one-off E39 prototype), the 2024 M5 Touring will also be one of firsts, namely the first to use plug-in hybrid power and the first M5 wagon to make it stateside. It will need the electric augmentation, though, as the Mercedes-AMG E63 Wagon is likely to be electrified soon, and we've been told a bonkers Audi RS6 swansong is on the way too. It's thanks to those two rivals that we'll even be getting the M5 Touring in America, as it's been through high demand that BMW M decided the US market was worth it.

Only officially teased for the first time in June 2023, the M5 Touring wagon is expected to debut before the end of the year, before coming out, probably as a 2024 model, early in the new year. Its debut will likely accompany the standard M5 Sedan. A firm release date has not been confirmed.

It's too early to confirm pricing, but one thing is for sure, the price of the 2024 BMW M5 Touring is guaranteed to be over six figures. While the current M5 Sedan has an MSRP of $109,900, and the M5 CS costs $142,000, we're expecting an M5 Touring to cost at least $130,000 when it arrives, if not more.

While BMW has furnished us with images of a camo-clad M5 Touring prototype as of yesterday, much of its design elements are still shrouded in mystery. Naturally, it will have a long roof with a roof-mounted spoiler, and as is par for the M course, widened fenders, quad exhaust outlets, and new bumpers front and rear. We also expect 21-inch alloy wheels to be fitted.

As for the colors of the BMW M5 Touring wagon, there'll likely be a new halo color but also BMW staples like Black Sapphire Metallic, Alpine White, Dravit Grey, Hockenheim Silver Metallic, and Melbourne Red. However, this is all subject to change.

Curiously, BMW has announced the M5 Touring before even teasing a 5 Series wagon, so information is scant on what to expect. The new 5 Series Sedan gives us an indication of what to expect sizewise, though, with dimensions including a wheelbase of approximately 118 inches, a length of around 200 inches, and a width in excess of 75 inches.

The big change here will be the weight of the M5 Touring, as its plug-in hybrid V8 powertrain is expected to tip the scales at over 5,000 lbs.

The reason for that rather unflattering curb weight is what will power the wagon. The engine in the M5 Touring will be the familiar S68 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, but it will be paired to a plug-in hybrid system seen in the XM super-SUV. We know this as BMW representatives told CarBuzz the brand would never develop a powertrain solution for a single vehicle only. But we were also told by insiders that it's likely to arrive sporting the full 738 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque from the XM Label Red. That may be in a more potent Competition spec, but even in base form, expect upwards of 700 hp.

That power will be divvied to the latest version of the M xDrive all-wheel drive system and make use of an eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. 0-60 mph should be possible in under 2.8 seconds, given how rapid the M5 CS was, and a top speed limited to 155 mph to start. The option to lift this to upwards of 180 mph is also expected. The AWD system will provide immense grip, while a rear-biased drift mode should let you perform lurid slides at will. But its weight may negatively impact handling, and we're expecting BMW M to pull out all the stops to get it to handle like an M5 should, with adaptive suspension, electronic anti-roll compensation, and trick differentials.

The BMW XM doesn't have a battery recharge mode, nor will the M5 Touring, but the latter will likely have a similar all-electric range of around 30 miles. We can also expect similar gas mileage figures, but with a lower stance and hopefully a little less weight, they might even be better than the XM's 73 MPGe combined. For reference, the current M5 is rated at 15/21/17 mpg city/highway/combined, while the XM's gas-only consumption figure is 14 mpg combined.

Charging will occur via brake regeneration and plugging into a home socket, which should fully replenish the battery in just over three hours on a Level 2 outlet.

BMWs are getting bigger, but the one place that pays dividends is inside the cabin, especially in the interior of the BMW M5 Touring, where the long roof should give buyers a handy amount of cargo space. The 5 Series Sedan has 17.3 cubic feet, while the old 5 Series Touring in Europe had 20 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 60 cubes with the rearmost seats folded. Expect more or less the same figure. The M5 Touring seats five occupants in two rows, with M bucket seats up front to cradle you when things get fun. A traditional M steering wheel will feature M1 and M2 modes for pre-programmed customizable modes, and the bulk of the materials will be leather, Alcantara, and carbon fiber.

As for amenities, standard infotainment will come via the BMW Curved Display, comprising two adjacent screens for instrumentation (12.3 inches) and infotainment (14.9 inches), respectively. Expected to run BMW Operating System 8.5, there will also be an abundance of functionality, and BMW is likely to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, into this from a tech perspective, including a head-up display and Highway Assistant semi-autonomous driving with eye-activated lane changing.