BMW 5-series Touring (2010) first official pictures

This is the fourth-generation BMW 5-series Touring, and it’s the third and final model to join the German car company’s Five range after the saloon and 5 GT.

Yes, and if you happen to cart water around for a living the increase of 60 litres to 560 litres might mean something to you. To the rest of us, it means harassed mothers and fathers will now be able to carry just a bit more of whatever clobber their lovely children need.

All Five Tourings also have 40/20/40 flat-folding rear seats, a boot cover that retracts and lowers with the boot lid, and the glass window in the tailgate opens separately to aid practicality too. Rear air suspension is standard as well, along with luxuries like leather, automatic air conditioning and parking sensors.

Inside it’s the same as the 5-series saloon with an interior inspired by the bigger 7-series, while an automatic parking system, four-wheel steering, head-up display, night vision and a speed limit recognition device are all options.

To start with there’s a choice of two petrol (523i and 535i) and two diesel (520d and 530d) engines. The full spec is below: 

£30,380

54.3 (53.3)

137 (139)

138 (137)

44.1 (44.8)

169 (165)

151 (150)

£33,585

35.8 (36.2)

144 (141)

£39,650

32.8 (33.2)

201 (197)

155 limited

N.B. Figures in brackets denote eight-speed automatic

The UK is the third largest market for the 5-series Touring, and the 520d is expected to be the biggest seller here. It comes with start/stop tech as standard, all Touring models come with a six-speed manual as the default gearbox (an eight-speed auto is an option), and BMW’s Efficient Dynamics tech (including active aerodynamics and electric power steering) is fitted across the entire range. The new 5-series Touring goes on sale on 18 September 2010.

So now that’s out of the way we can start salivating at the prospect of the new M5.

By Ben Pulman