A new high-performance luxury wagon may save a dying breed.
In today’s automotive world, SUVs have become one of the most popular body styles, with luxury and performance variants imbuing the practical and versatile vehicles with the attributes of luxury sedans and supercars alike. However, decades ago, the body style of choice was the station wagon, which was deemed unfashionable and has since become one of the rarest styles on the road.
However, station wagons have earned themselves a niche following among car enthusiasts, and luxury high-performance wagons have become an intriguing segment of the automotive industry, where practicality, luxury, and performance combine elegantly differently than their luxury-performance SUV counterparts. European manufacturers like Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW have become the champions of cars like these. BMW is reaffirming its commitment to the luxury performance wagon formula by introducing its first-ever BMW M3 Touring. However, it’s going a step further with another new performance wagon.
That is the new BMW M5 Touring, which has just been revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, one of the most prestigious and anticipated annual automotive events. It’s debuting alongside the new BMW M5 sedan, which uses a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain to produce a massive 717 horsepower and 738 lb/ft of torque. The new M5 Touring boasts the same futuristic power. It can drive 25 miles on electric power alone, boasts nearly 60 cubic feet of cargo capacity, and rockets from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 190 mph (with the M Driver’s Package).
Previous generations of the BMW M5 have had Touring variants. Still, this new generation marks the first time a BMW M5 Touring station wagon has been offered in the United States market, bringing a new luxury performance wagon to a scarce but intriguing segment. The new M5 Touring’s versatility is highlighted through its five driving modes: HYBRID, ELECTRIC, eCONTROL, DYNAMIC, and DYNAMIC PLUS. These modes allow for comfortable everyday driving, all-electric commuting, battery capacity optimization, and circuit domination.
However, the new BMW M5 Touring boasts much more than being a luxury station wagon with plenty of brawn. It’s also a driver-focused masterpiece that can switch between four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive for drifting, for example. In addition, a near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution ensures supercar-level dynamics. With luxury, hair-raising performance, and the added practicality and unique appeal of a station wagon body style, the new hybrid 717-horsepower BMW M5 Touring is the future of luxury performance wagons, and a car that could breathe life into an endangered segment in the market. It starts at $121,500, plus a $1,175 destination and handling fee, and its global market launch is set to take place in the fourth quarter of the year.
Image Source: BMW
