While the current BMW M5 CS already develops 635 hp, its replacement fitted with a station wagon body could literally blast this level of power. Explanations.
The new generation of BMW 5 Series has just seen the light of day with an already plethoric range of engines including in particular 100% electric variants in addition to thermal blocks hybridized according to several levels (48V, rechargeable). The honor also goes to a PHEV group to embody the top of the range, for the moment, by accumulating 489 hp. A beautiful cavalry which will however struggle to satisfy the most radical of the “Béhèmistes”, impatient at the idea that the 2023 vintage passes into the hands of the Motorsport department. The arrival of this M5 will probably materialize in the course of the year 2024, in the form of a sedan, at the time of the introduction of the station wagon version on the classic range. But the fusion between this silhouette of a mover and the most explosive motorization of the 5 Series is not expected before 2025. If it is easy to imagine what it could look like, as our exclusive illustration suggests, namely of what wood will heat this future Touring of all the devils.
And, no offense to the most fervent defenders of the Blue Propeller, everything suggests that Munich will give in to the sirens of rechargeable hybridization to achieve its ends. Mercedes-AMG had opened the hostilities by unveiling, last year, its first very high performance sedans electrified in this way. In the wake of the GT 4-Door 63 SE Performance with 843 hp, the starred firm had lifted the veil on a more “modest” C 63 SE Performance with 680 hp. An arms race to which BMW will logically respond by introducing a brand new M5 converted to the electric fairy. However, unlike Mercedes, which advocates excessive downsizing, based on “over-electrified” 4-cylinders, BMW still intends to renew its good old 8-cylinder to animate its future M5.
Fingers in the socket
To achieve its ends, it will probably inherit the recent powertrain released by the BMW XM Red Label SUV which combines a 4.4 l V8 of 585 hp with a 197 hp electric motor to obtain 748 hp. A trifle that, according to rumor, could be increased to 760 hp under the hood of the sedan. Logically heavier than the old 100% thermal M5 (1,895 kg), its rechargeable hybrid replacement should greatly exceed two tonnes, insofar as the XM Red Label is close to 2.7 t. A weight gain that could harm the performance improvement of this M5, its ancestor being already able to ship the 0 to 100 km / h in 3 s in its most angry definition (M5 CS).
Back to stylistic sources
Aesthetically speaking, the new BMW M5 PHEV will delight critics of recent in-house achievements, far from unanimously appreciating the enlarged beans officiating as a grille. As the pictures taken by our spy photographers suggest, the ventilation grille will not experience disproportionate growth, like the rest of the catalog. On board, it will benefit from the famous BMW Curved Display digital panel which bars the cockpit at 2/3 of its width. But above all, we hope that this future interior will exude sportiness with a great deal of carbon and Alcantara, in particular to cover the bucket seats.
Prix future BMW M5 Touring
Presented in 2024 in its sedan definition, the very first M5 hybrid in the history of BMW will probably wait until 2025 to turn into a station wagon. On the price side, we bet that the complexity of its electrification will earn it the bar of 200,000 €.
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