BMW M boss hints at possible M5 wagon revival

BMW just unveiled its first high-performance wagon, the M3 Touring, but could the M5 be getting a long-roof version as well?

While a redesigned M5 sedan is currently being planned, BMW M division boss Frank van Meel, when recently asked by Car Buzz if the new M5 could spawn an M5 Touring, teased that a wagon variant might eventually appear

"In the meantime, we're going to have to wait and see what happens.

"We'll see," he said. If you see something like that on the Nürburgring, we will do it."

His reference to the Nürburgring refers to prototype testing at the German race track; a prototype of the M5 sedan has already been spotted at the Nürburgring.

BMW is not averse to the idea of a more practical M5, as there have been two M5 Tourings in the past, one based on the E34 M5 of the late 80s and early 90s and the other on the E60 M5 of the 00s. But now that the M3 Touring has been passed over for sale in the U.S., what are the chances of the M5 Touring being sold in the U.S.?

Asked by Car Buzz about the demand for wagons in the U.S., van Meer said that more dealers and customers are looking for wagons and that this is being considered. This trend has not gone unnoticed by BMW M rivals Audi Sport and Mercedes-Benz AMG. Audi's RS 6 Avant wagon was finally introduced for the 2021 model year, and Mercedes sold its last AMG E 63 wagon in the range-topping S version.

BMW has time to make a decision. The new M5 is expected to go on sale in 2024 and will feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a V-8 and electric motor integrated with the transmission; the same setup will be used for the new XM in 2023 and the planned XM Red Label range-topping grade will produce 735 hp.