It can be hard to keep up with the permutations of the BMW lineup, though some variants are certainly more interesting than most. We’ll count the new 550e Touring as one of them: take the 489hp powertrain from the saloon (313hp, 3.0-litre straight six, 197hp electric motor), drop it into a handsome estate body, and Robert’s your father’s brother. With xDrive, it’ll reach 62mph in 4.4 seconds; thanks to the electrification (and a 19.4kWh battery), the 550 is officially capable of more than 250mpg. Even with the battery depleted, BMW’s stats suggest more than 30mpg is doable.
Sure, a 550e won’t be like a six-cylinder M5 to drive. Or to look at (BMW hasn't released any official images, although it's safe to assume it'll look more like the also-new i5 xDrive40 Touring pictured below than the M5 above). This isn’t even technically an M Performance model, but rather the most powerful regular PHEV available. When PH reviewed the saloon, the ‘probably ranks highly among the best hybrids available at any price’ was caveated with some concerns about how the 5 Series handled its weight in extremis. It just wasn’t as exciting as might be hoped for from a near-500hp BMW saloon - but arguably those issues are less pressing in estate form, where the amount of ski equipment it can carry and whether it can reach the holiday home without stopping will be more important. With the Touring just announced, expect the 550e on sale in the UK soon. Hopefully it’ll coincide with the November introduction of new colours like Frozen Portimao Blue and Malachite Green Metallic II for the entire 5 Series range.
Also coming that month for the UK is something called an M Technology Package for the M135 xDrive. More interesting than it sounds, too, because while you might cynically believe it brings a carbon fuel cap and tricolour-accented floor mats, the add-on introduces lighter aluminium anti-roll bars, additional chassis bracing and ‘particularly strong piston rods’ for the front dampers. All the sort of stuff that’s very hard to sell sexily, but usually well worth the outlay from a driving perspective.
Additionally, the M Technology Package introduces a different tune for the steering and control systems, bigger brakes and forged alloy wheels. The really committed can even get track tyres on their 19s. BMW says the kit brings ‘significantly improved’ lap times as well as making a difference in everyday driving. Certainly one to try when the new 1 Series arrives in the UK. Perhaps by then we’ll be used to how it looks, too.
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