Regardless that there have been six generations of BMW M5, with a seventh one on the horizon, solely two of them had been out there as a extra sensible Touring mannequin. This meant that for the previous couple of a long time, BMW’s rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz have had the efficiency wagon phase all to themselves. Followers of the Bavarian model have at all times thought that BMW ought to supply a rival for the Audi RS6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class AMG fashions and now could be a type of uncommon events when the producer has listened to them (and doubtless the market, which has modified within the final decade) because it prepares to launch the G99 BMW M5 Touring.

E34 BMW M5 Touring

BMW’s first M5 wagon was the E34-based mannequin launched in 1992, together with the Touring mannequin for that era 5 Sequence. It appeared so much like its non-M siblings, nevertheless it packed the mighty S38B38 3.8-liter underneath its hood. It bought the upgraded engine from the revised 1991 E34 M5, which initially featured a 3.5-liter model of the engine with the code identify S38B36. BMW upped the capability from 3.5 to three.8 liter and energy was elevated from 311 to 335 horsepower, whereas torque went up from 266 pound-feet (360 Nm) to 295 pound-feet (400 Nm).

These had been outstanding numbers for an early Nineteen Nineties household wagon, which might dash to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.9 seconds, and it needed to be pegged again on the high finish as a result of it will exceed the 155 mph (250 km/h) gents’s settlement pace. It’s the mixture of those efficiency numbers, the unmistakable bark of the straight-six, and the improved dealing with that made the E34 M5 a totally distinctive wagon expertise for its day.

For the M5, BMW fitted stiffened and upgraded suspension, in addition to a limited-slip differential that made it notably sharper and extra entertaining to drive than different variations. Nevertheless, again within the early Nineteen Nineties, when it was launched, folks apparently weren’t prepared for such a car, and it didn’t promote properly in any respect, solely managing to promote 891 autos, in comparison with over 11,000 E34 M5 sedans. Its rarity makes the E34 M5 Touring significantly dearer than the sedan variant should you had been to purchase one at the moment.

E61 BMW M5 Touring

Due to the mannequin’s low gross sales numbers, BMW determined in opposition to making an M5 Touring primarily based on the V8-powered E39 M5, which is regarded by many followers as the one finest M automobile ever produced, nevertheless it gave the inexperienced mild for one to be made primarily based on the subsequent era E60 mannequin. The E60 M5 debuted in 2007 and remained in manufacturing till 2010.

It was primarily based on the E61 wagon, which is a car from the Chris Bangle period of BMW design, and it bears all of the emblems. Nevertheless, it was the primary M5 to function flared fenders and extra distinguished wheel arches that accommodated a wider entrance and rear observe, which made it look fairly completely different from the usual 5 wagons of the time. The craziest factor about it was not the way it appeared, although, however fairly what powered it.

Underneath the hood, this era M5 had an absolute screamer of an engine (actually), the 100-horsepower-per-liter S85 5-liter V10. With its uneven firing order, it offered a soundtrack solely matched by the Porsche Carrera GT because it accelerates to its 8,250 rpm redline. Its most energy of 500 horsepower arrived barely decrease, at 7,750 rpm, and you continue to needed to rev it to six,100 rpm for it to supply its peak torque ranking of 384 pound-feet (520 Nm).

In contrast to the previous E34 that solely got here with a six-speed guide, BMW provided the E60 and E61 M5 completely with its SMG-III automated guide transmission, which was nice whenever you had been actually on it, nevertheless it wasn’t one of the best whenever you had been simply cruising round otherwise you wished to set off from a slight incline. For the US market, BMW additionally provided a six-speed guide as a no-cost choice, however this was by no means formally out there in Europe.

Nevertheless, the E61 M5 Touring was by no means formally offered within the US, so all M5 wagons from this era get the SMG transmission. Of the 20,589 models produced over its five-year manufacturing run, simply 1,025 examples had been Tourings, which is a fair smaller proportion of the entire than within the case of the unique M5 Touring. That’s why you could have by no means seen the wagon in actual life whereas having seen numerous sedans.

G99 BMW M5 Touring Coming Quickly

We’re glad BMW is bringing again the M5 wagon with the G99, though it’s once more making some essential modifications to the components—most likely crucial modifications within the mannequin’s historical past. The G99 will likely be all-wheel drive solely, plug-in hybrid solely, and it is going to be the most important and tallest M5 Touring thus far. It’s additionally going to be essentially the most highly effective, that includes a model of the plug-in powertrain from the mighty XM tremendous SUV. Being all-wheel drive-only, it is going to be extra of a direct rival to the favored Audi RS6, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how the 2 fashions will evaluate head-to-head.