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BMW teased its elegantly-styled i5 Touring EV station wagon
It’s a known fact that station wagons have declined in popularity in South Africa, largely due to the rising preference for SUVs as all-round family vehicles.
However, when it comes to performance-oriented station wagons there’s an undeniable appeal. Cars such as the Audi RS 6, RS 4, BMW M3 Touring, and M5 Touring models continue to charm with their mixture of practicality and performance.
BMW is set to introduce an i5 Touring version later this year, which seeks to add a dose of practicality and the clear-conscious thrill of driving an EV.
The Munich-based marque hasn’t shared any specific details regarding the i5 Touring models yet, but insights can be gleaned from the existing i5 sedan.
For starters, the i5 Touring sits on the brand’s Cluster Architecture platform, which also forms the basis of the normal 5 Series that was revealed in 2023, and for the local market, we anticipate that the i5 M60 xDrive will be the flagship model of the range.
This model, in the i5 application, has a range of up to 516km, courtesy of an 81.2kWh battery pack that feeds power to two electric motors on the rear and front axles. In total, the motors churn out 442kW and 820Nm of torque, enough to send the sedan to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds en route to a top speed of 230km/h. As for aerodynamics and weight, it's to be expected that the performance parameters may be marginally different.
The i5 sedan's battery pack can be recharged using an AC charger with up to 11kW or an optional 22kW. Buyers can also use a DC charger with a rate of up to 205kW and get the batteries recharged from 10 to 80% in about 30 minutes.
We do not rule out BMW introducing the eDrive40 with a single motor producing 250kW and 400Nm and a 6-second sprint to 100km/h from rest. Teased on Instagram and Facebook, BMW doesn’t state when the i5 Touring will be revealed. However, when it arrives later this year, it will compete with the Audi A6 Avant e-Tron, which also promises superb performance and practicality.
The i5 makes absolute sense in a country where stonking high-performance station wagons have gained an almost cult-like following.
