BMW’s M division has faced challenges navigating customs regulations post-Brexit, but the allure of the UK’s winding mountain roads has convinced them to bring their prototypes to North Wales. Autocar road testers have long persuaded industry professionals like Dirk Hacker, vice-president and head of R&D at BMW’s M division, to tune their cars in the UK for dynamic challenges. Despite the practical hurdles, Hacker and his team brought the Touring version of the upcoming BMW M5 to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. On a rainy day in July, the road testers had the opportunity to test the new G99-generation estate version of the plug-in-hybridised performance exec on wet, tight, bumpy, and slippery roads in North Wales.
The BMW M5 Touring prototype certainly feels its size, but it surprises with its dextrous ride, sophisticated body control, and natural affinity for wide, fast roads. Despite its weight, the car remains composed and fluent-riding, thanks to the electric motor’s torque fill. The electric motor contributes to the car’s huge and accessible performance. Additionally, the M division’s rapid-fire 4WD/RWD configurability sets it apart. However, on some UK roads, it feels a size too large, and its 2.5-tonne kerb weight is always present. This M5 is more grown-up and less hair-raising than previous models, which has its pros and cons.
In terms of design and styling, the BMW M5 Touring prototype matches its rivals as a technological tour de force. However, its weight of close to 2500kg in Touring form is a drawback.
The M5 Touring represents a departure from previous models and key rivals because it incorporates electrification. It features a P2-style hybrid powertrain, with a 195bhp electric motor upstream of the eight-speed automatic transmission. Dirk Hacker explains that this configuration allows for a bigger battery and performance for a longer duration. The M5 Touring becomes the world’s first 700-horsepower M5 and introduces four-wheel steering, unlike any previous M5. The car’s weight increased compared to the previous generation, with a key challenge being to strengthen the chassis to support the additional weight and brace against forces.
On the sodden roads of Snowdonia, the M5 Touring showcases its wide footprint and dextrous-riding ability. It feels surprisingly supple and composed over complex surfaces, with linear and precise steering. The M5 Touring aims to strike a dynamic compromise similar to the older E39 model, focusing on suitability for fast road use rather than aggressive track performance.
Dirk Hacker acknowledges the previous M5’s aggressive execution and customer feedback, emphasizing that the M5 is not a track car but a working vehicle. To achieve a supple ride, progressive-rate coils were chosen for the suspension instead of air springs. This decision provides sufficient wheel travel and allows the dampers to work effectively, keeping the wheels on the ground during body deflection.
Despite its size and weight, the M5 Touring handles the challenging roads of Snowdonia with ease, only feeling heavy during weight shifting moments over the rear axle. The electrically boosted acceleration provides super-accessible muscle, and the car’s traction, grip, steering, and body control inspire confidence. While the M5 Touring has grown up and expanded in size, it aims to capture the dynamic compromise of older M5 models and appeal to owners of the current M3.
In conclusion, the BMW M5 Touring prototype impresses with its performance, ride quality, and handling. The car represents a clever evolution for BMW’s M division, replacing core models and offering a larger, more versatile option that strikes a balance between agility and comfort. A full verdict on the production model will be available in 2024, but based on this evidence, BMW has succeeded in creating a compelling and mature M5.
