It's hard to fathom, but the last time BMW gifted the world with a mind-blowingly powerful M5 Touring was back in 2007. But 17 years later, the German marque has righted those wrongs with arguably its most powerful example yet.
All hail the 2024 BMW M5 Touring (codenamed G99 for all you car geeks out there), a stunning hybrid wagon (or station wagon, if you're in the States) that packs a frankly ridiculous total output of 717 bhp from a combination of a roaring 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and an 18.6 kWh electric motor/battery pack.
BMW has ensured that owners can cruise quietly on electricity alone for up to 42 miles, with the option to plug in and recharge the onboard battery cells, or leave all that sensible stuff aside and make the most of the 1000 Nm (737 lb ft) of torque.
All this adds up to a 0-62mph time of just 3.6 seconds, or 0-124mph in just over 11 seconds, as well as an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Tick a discrete option box and that speed limit rises to 189mph. The school car won't know what hit it.
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Other notable features include adaptive all-wheel drive, which can be selected for low-traction situations or deselected when you want the full fury of 700bhp-plus rear-wheel drive action.
On top of this, BMW includes its rear-wheel steering system that cleverly disguises the 5,096mm (16ft) length by making low-speed turning maneuvers more precise. Plus, there's adaptive suspension to firm things up (hello, track days) or to make the ride softer (so babies sleep).
All this amounts to a lot of weight and critics are already bemoaning the fact that the mass of 2,560 kg (5,634 lbs) is almost as much as that of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
But BMW has countered with power – lots and lots of power. And it claims that the heavy-duty hybrid system will not only help owners with the astronomically high fuel bills of today's V8s, but will also help with those quiet, stealthy getaways where the roar of a voracious combustion engine isn't appropriate.
A sensible purchase
BMW says the new M5 Touring will start at £112,500 in the UK, while in North America it will cost $121,500, plus $1,175 for shipping and handling. Australian customers will have to fork out $263,900.
That's a lot of money for any growing family, but this hybrid estate looks set to deliver incredible performance with at least an essence of practicality, whether it's the 1,630 litres of flexible cargo capacity, the ability to tow bulky trailers or travelling quietly around 40 miles, with zero emissions.
Oh, and road tax will be cheaper in some parts of the world, thanks to CO2 emissions as low as 39g/km, low emission zones won't be a problem and the German giant says it can achieve 166.2mpg with careful management.
Take note of these points, as they are excellent ammunition when you try to convince your partner to trade in the boring old off-roader for a big dose of German power.
