BMW has just expanded the new generation 5 Series with the introduction of the Touring flavor in ICE and EV forms. The two models follow in the footsteps of their four-door counterparts, featuring pretty much the same stuff and having a much more generous cargo area.
According to the Munich auto marque, the all-new 5 Series Touring has a larger overall footprint compared to its predecessor. It measures 199.2 inches (5,060 mm) from bumper to bumper, is 74.8 inches (1,900 mm) wide and 59.6 inches (1,515 mm) tall. This makes it 3.8 in (97 mm) longer, 1.3 in (32 mm) wider, and 0.7 in (17 mm) taller. It also has a 0.8 in (20 mm) longer wheelbase at 117.9 in (2,995 mm).
It has a cargo capacity of 20.1 cu-ft (570 liters) behind the rear seats, which can expand to 60 cu-ft (1,700 liters) by folding them flat. BMW also speaks about additional storage under the trunk floor, and the tailgate is electric for easier loading and unloading. Since we've ended up inside, we might as well mention the 12.3-inch digital gauges and 14.9-inch infotainment sitting behind a curved pane of glass and taking center stage.
Stuff such as the Merino leather upholstery, panoramic glass roof, premium audio from Bowers & Wilkins, etc, will be available as options. The new five-door 5ers and the long-roof version of the i5 also feature a plethora of safety systems, including the eye-activated lane change assistant, which is bound to impress those in the back seat and the person riding shotgun. The car can be ordered with a semi-autonomous driving function and is available with M Sport suspension and brakes, adaptive chassis, active roll comfort, and others.
Photo: BMW
As far as the exterior is concerned, the two models have a very familiar face joined by muscular wheel arches, a roofline that is a bit arched towards the rear, a tailgate, and slim taillamps. The kidney grille will be available with illumination to make the vehicle more visible at night. Standard wheels will include the 18- and 19-inch sets, yet up to 21-inch alloys will be available as an option, thus eliminating the need to visit an aftermarket wheelmaker to get new running shoes.
Europeans will be able to order it with a 2.0L diesel rated at 194 hp (197 ps/145 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. It features mild hybrid tech, comes with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and can be fitted with optional xDrive all-wheel drive. A six-pot diesel and two plug-in hybrids will also launch later this year, and we should learn more about them probably in a few months.
Moving to the i5 Touring, it comes in the eDrive40 flavor with a rear-mounted motor that generates 335 hp (340 ps/250 kW) and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) of torque. There is also an M60 xDrive model available, which brings a bi-motor setup that pushes out a combined 593 hp (601 ps/442 kW) and 605 lb-ft (820 Nm). The 0-62 mph) takes 6.1 seconds in the former and 3.9 seconds in the latter, and the range is rated at up to 348 and 314 miles (560-506 km), respectively, on the WLTP cycle. Both feature an 81.2 kWh battery pack located in the underbody.
The official launch of the new 5 Series Touring and i5 Touring is scheduled for this May in Europe and Japan, with other markets to follow from June.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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