Monday 15th March 2010

BMW Reveals New 5 Series Touring

Latest 'exec' wagon gets 3-way split seats and twin tailgate

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The new generation 5 Series Touring will go on sale with a variety of detail features to enhance its load-carrying ability.

As with the saloon version we've already driven, the design of the new BMW 5 Series Touring is characterised by a surface design that has been gently 'de-Bangled'.

"With its long bonnet, short overhangs, the longest wheelbase in its segment, the stretched silhouette and a steeply inclined roofline, the new BMW 5 Series Touring possesses elegance unrivalled by its competitors," says the company, and who are we to disagree.

On the inside, the luggage compartment has a capacity of 560 litres, increasing to a maximum of 1,670 litres if the 40:20:40 split folding rear seats are deployed. (That three-way split is unique in the segment, they say.)

The backrest angle is also variable by up to 11 degrees, and can be folded down using two control levers inside the luggage compartment, and there's a separately opening rear window that automatically swings upwards at the push of a button.

The 5 Series Touring will arrive with a choice of two straight-six petrol engines (the 204bhp 523i and the 306bhp 535i) and two diesels (the 245bhp 530d and the 184bhp 520d.) All come with a six speed manual gearbox as standard, although an 8-speed auto is on the options list.

Expect prices to start at a shade over £30k when sales start here in late summer.

[Simply Tom]

I hate to admit it, but I love it!!

I like the tailgate window opening too, but I'm struggling to see the real world benefit of the 40:20:40 split.

[nelly_h]

I like the new saloon a lot, but I'm not sure about the looks on this one. I'll reserve judgment until I see it in the flesh.

[Hammerhead]

Looks pretty good in 'hearing aid' beige!

[Gary C]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

[Gary C]

Only interesting thing,

is the over eager deletion going on in this thread.

Think I may get a chipped Saxo now , more fun apparently

Edited by Gary C on Monday 15th March 12:41

Edited by Gary C on Monday 15th March 12:43

[Garlick]

Happy to help

[Gary C]

Looks nice in a does what it says on the tin sort of way.

[soad]

Not bad - does what it's supposed to. Doesn't stand out much either.

[Drederick Tatum]

[margerison]

As someone who needs a 'dog wagon' for a large dog...why oh why oh why do manufactures/designers insist on chopping off half the roof line in estate versions?!

Unfortunately the most efficient use of space is a box...and no, I don't want a Volvo! ;-p

[Nickellarse]

No 535d or M5 Touring though?

I love mine. It's a wolf in sheeps clothing. Loads of space and very capable.

[Garlick]

I do like the flared rear arches, although it looks a little copied from the RS6.

Edited by Garlick on Monday 15th March 13:04

[B17NNS]

Very handsome. Will look great in m-sport trim I think.

[the Fantom]

I didn't mind the saloon, but the estate looks v dull. Especially in the beige colour it looks worse than an E-class estate. In fact I would choose that over the 5.

[Vladimir Pukin]

Simply Tom said:

I hate to admit it, but I love it!!

I like the tailgate window opening too, but I'm struggling to see the real world benefit of the 40:20:40 split.

Split tailgate has been on 3 series touring for a while. It's pretty useful too.

[Bill Carr]

Simply Tom said:

I like the tailgate window opening too, but I'm struggling to see the real world benefit of the 40:20:40 split.

Isn't it a modern-day equivalent of a ski-hatch?

[Luca Brasi]

Looks fab. Much better looking than the E91 and less dull than the E61. I like it!

[Hammerhead]

Vladimir Pukin said:

Simply Tom said:

I hate to admit it, but I love it!!

I like the tailgate window opening too, but I'm struggling to see the real world benefit of the 40:20:40 split.

Split tailgate has been on 3 series touring for a while. It's pretty useful too.

It's been around since the E34 5 series tourings.

[dugt]

I like it, although the 3 series, 5 series and 7 series just seem to look like slightly different sizes of the same car. But thats nots necessary a bad thing.

How is the 40:20:40 seats going to work? Can you have the middle seat up and the rest down? I can see the oint in it, just not the logistics of making it work.

And why don't they have the press cars in the colours that 90% of people are going to buy it in, silver, dark grey and black?

[Smartass]

Looks a bit dull but I guess there's only so much you can do with a great big estate car. Once it's been dipped in M-Badges it'll probably be just the thing for a mid-management, mid-life crisis.

It does remind me of the Rover 75 from some angles though.