New BMW M5 Touring all but confirmed

BMW M boss Frank van Meel has poured more fuel on the fire around the prospects of a next-generation BMW M5 Touring, citing increasing global demand for low-riding M-badged family haulers.

Speaking to CarBuzz at the South African BMW M Festival, van Meel said dealers around the world had been reporting increasing consumer interest in BMW wagons, especially in the US market that won’t have access to the hotly anticipated BMW M3 Touring.

“We do see the demand increasing, especially in regard to M, because the US is our single biggest market, our most important market,” he said.

“We listened to our dealers and our customers, and they’re coming more and more, asking for a touring. So, we are taking that into consideration.”

When pressed on whether this interest could yield an Audi RS 6-baiting M5 Touring version of the latest BMW 5 Series, van Meel referenced the fact five-door M5s have been offered before, specifically in the E34 and E61 generations (neither of which were sold in Australia).

“We’ll see. Keep your eyes open, and if you see something like that on the Nurburgring, we’re going to do it,” he said after reportedly flashing a quick smile.

The next-generation BMW M5 super sedan is reportedly earmarked to launch in 2024 and will lob with a new twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid system pinched out of the just-revealed BMW XM super-SUV, albeit with even more power.

Previous intel has nominated a 2025 launch for the Touring version, which would roughly align with previous M wagon launches following their donor sedans.

The first BMW M5 Touring, the E34, was released in 1992 but only produced in left-hand drive and less than 900 units were made.

The five-door body style returned in 2007 with the V10-powered E61 M5 Touring – a vehicle developed and released in response to Audi’s all-conquering RS6 Avant and the brutish Mercedes-AMG E 55 Estate.

If a new-generation M5 Touring does emerge, there’s every chance it could retake its predecessor’s crown as the world’s fastest production wagon, as well as being the most powerful.

The former title is currently held by the Porsche Panamera Sport Turimso Turbo S E-Hybrid, which has an official top speed of 315km/h, while the grunt crown belongs to its stablemate – the 560kW/1050Nm Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.

We’ve already seen the new M5 being tested on public roads and pummelled around the Nurburgring, and chances are we’ll see it at least another couple of times over the coming 12 months or so as everyone starts looking for the wagon version… especially at the Green Hell.

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