“If you build it, they will come.”
That disembodied voice from the cornfield spoke to Kevin Costner about the 1918 Chicago White Sox, but perhaps somewhere in a dream field in southern Germany, it is also busy pleading its case to maverick auto executives. Because despite all apparent logic, Audi decided to finally be RS 6 Avant – a wagon. There was a lot of joy among car enthusiasts, and people should actually buy the thing, because BMW has decided that it may not be so crazy after all and answers the call. Take that Timothy Busfield (that’s the last “Field of dreams“reference, I promise).
The 2025 BMW M5 Touring will indeed be the first M5 station wagon that would be sold directly from the factory in the United States, unlike 30 years later Bring a Trailer. It is not the first M5 Touring, however. The second, E34 generation (1992) and fourth, E61 generation (2007) also received official versions with a long roof.
Basically this is just a different body style from the 2025 BMW M5 that was revealed in June. That means it has the same plug-in hybrid powertrain that produces a total of 717 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. That would be 96 and 111 more, respectively, than the RS 6 Avant. The AMG E63 The S Wagon, which we hope will be replaced by a new generation, is down 114 hp and 111 lb-ft.
The new M5’s 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 alone produces 557 hp and 553 lb-ft, while the electric motor in the eight-speed automatic transmission makes 194 hp and 207 lb-ft. Given that output, it’s no surprise that all-wheel drive is standard. The 0-60 time is quoted at 3.5 seconds, a tenth slower than the sedan.
The rather enormous 14.8 kilowatt hours batteryThe one in the lower end offers 25 miles of electric range, though BMW didn’t specify what test cycle that was for. Either way, it’s a lot better than the token amount Mercedes-AMG is offering with its various E Performance plug-ins.
Unsurprisingly, the rest of the dynamic package is largely carried over from the sedan to the wagon, including the 50:50 weight distribution. One exception is the model-specific underfloor reinforcements, including a cross-member and a sliding panel, plus further reinforcements to counteract that large luggage compartment.
Which brings us to, literally, the biggest difference between the M5 and the M5 Touring. BMW says the trunk space measures 17.7 cubic feet, but that’s clearly a measurement that stops at the rear seatbacks rather than the more common floor-to-ceiling method. As such, you can’t really compare that cargo volume to the RS 6 Avant’s 30 cubic feet, which is a floor-to-ceiling number (BTW, You can fit so much stuff in the trunk of the RS 6 Avant). Total capacity with the rear seats folded is 57.6 cubic feet, which is comparable to other wagons. For reference, the BMW X5 M has a maximum capacity of 72.3 cubic feet, although much of that difference is undoubtedly due to the greater length of the body.
In true BMW tradition, the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat has a pass-through in the middle 20 for carrying larger items. There’s also an electric, hands-free tailgate.
It wasn’t entirely clear from the press release whether there are any substantive differences between the sedan and the station wagon, but the Touring comes standard with something that isn’t available on the sedan at all: the Air Lounge Panoramic Roof. Apparently it “functions as a structural module, extending in one section from just behind the windshield to well behind the vehicle.” It doesn’t open, but thankfully there is an electric roller shade. It’s unclear whether you can opt for a metal or carbon fiber roof instead.
The 2025 BMW M5 Touring goes on sale later this year and will be built alongside the sedan in Dingolfing, Germany. Pricing starts at $122,675, including destination. That’s actually about $4,000 less than the RS 6 Avant, which isn’t loaded up for that price.
As exciting as it is to finally get an M5 Touring in the United States, we’re curious to see if BMW takes the plunge with this intriguing BMW i5 Touring – or its all-electric sibling. Some would say it wouldn’t make sense to bring that here, but then again…
