Screaming Bimmer Station Wagon: [Autoweek] spies BMW's hotted-up M5 hauler

[NFS4]

Screaming Bimmer Station Wagon: Autoweek spies BMW's hotted-up M5 hauler

It?s not due in North American showrooms for at least 12 months, but we?ve caught the new BMW M5 Sports Wagon testing in minimal disguise at Germany?s Nürburgring track.

Aimed squarely at the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG and the upcoming second-generation Audi RS6, BMW?s go-fast load hauler receives the same 5.0-liter 500-hp V10 engine and other mechanical modifications as its lauded sedan sibling, so expect sizzling performance to back up its versatile luggage space.

Visually, the wagon adheres closely to the M5 sedan with a deeper front bumper with enlarged cooling ducts, widened sills beneath the doors and new rear bumper designed to draw hot air away from the differential. BMW?s M division developed a spoiler that sits atop the standard 5 Series liftgate to smooth airflow and reduce lift at speed.

One hurdle for BMW?s M division was engineering the M5 Sports Wagon?s rear suspension. While retaining the same multilink design, it differs from that of the M5 sedan, with more compact towers and a self-leveling mechanism to improve load capacity.

The appearance of the new M5 wagon comes 10 years after BMW?s last attempt at muscling its way into the performance wagon market. Based on the 3.8-liter 340-hp inline six-cylinder E34 M5, the first M5 wagon was produced in a limited run of just 900 cars.

The decision to forge ahead with the new model is driven by increased demand for performance wagons in the United States. ?We?ve been monitoring the development of wagon sales in the USA carefully,? says our BMW source, ?and after a long period of stagnation they are rebounding quite heavily, and there is a feeling an M5 Sports Wagon could do well.?

 

[mitmot]

omg why would you ever make an M5 station wagon

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: mitmot
omg why would you ever make an M5 station wagon

Because you want something fast that still hauls ass and your stash? I'd rather have it than a stupid Cayenne Turbo

 

[mitmot]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: mitmot
omg why would you ever make an M5 station wagon

Because you want something fast that still hauls ass and your stash? I'd rather have it than a stupid Cayenne Turbo

maybe, if im dealing drugs or ak47s out of my trunk

 

[virtueixi]

Seems like they are trying to copy the magnum (conceptually).

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: mitmot
omg why would you ever make an M5 station wagon

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: virtueixi
Seems like they are trying to copy the magnum (conceptually).

??


http://www.authen.no/pics/bmw-m5-touring-1992-2.jpg

 

[virtueixi]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: virtueixi
Seems like they are trying to copy the magnum (conceptually).

??


http://www.authen.no/pics/bmw-m5-touring-1992-2.jpg

Guess not.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

bahaha virtue are you serious...europeans have been making sports wagons before even teh suv craze

 

[halik]

the front is still fugly...