BMW Philippines unleashes the M5 and M5 Touring for Php 12.790M
If you wanted an electrified BMW M-car in the Philippines, you only had the large XM SAV as your only option, but even that isn’t as traditional as its other M siblings. Sure, you have the i5 M60, but purists would argue that it isn’t a true M car to begin with.
Enter both the new BMW M5 (G90) and M5 Touring (G99), which are both priced at Php 12,790,000, more affordable than the previous generation M5.
The M5 pair is powered by an electrified 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 (known as the S68) with a plug-in hybrid system. The engine can produce a maximum of 585 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque, while the electric motor churns out 197 horsepower and up to 450 Nm.
The combined power output is a massive 727 horsepower and 1,000 Nm of torque, enabling the sedan to smash the 100kph barrier in just 3.5 seconds for the sedan, and the wagon in 3.6 seconds.
An eight-speed automatic transmission, the xDrive all-wheel-drive system (that can send all the power to the rear) with an electronically controlled differential, adaptive suspension, and rear-wheel steering (with optional carbon ceramic brakes) handle all of this power.
The top speed is also a maximum of 305kph, despite the vehicle’s beastly curb weight of around 2,435kg. Being a plug-in hybrid, it can also travel up to 67km on a single charge with a maximum speed of up to 140kph on pure electric power. There is an 18.6 kWh battery pack that can be charged at AC speeds of up to 7.4kW.
As with all M-cars, the exterior of the M5 and M5 Touring takes an otherwise tame design and turns it up to 11 with flared-out bodywork, aggressive front and rear bumpers with functional aerodynamics, and staggered 20- and 21-inch wheels wrapped in sticky rubber.
Both variants receive a luxurious interior, just made louder with the prerequisite M-specific additions like M bucket seats upholstered in fine Merino leather, carbon fiber trim on the dashboard, an M steering wheel, and M-specific customizations for the BMW Curved Display and heads-up display.
Of course, it receives other amenities like quad-zone climate control, a wireless phone charger, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, BMW’s ConnectedDrive services, and also, a bunch of advanced driver assistance systems that you’re most likely to turn off once you’re destroying the tires of this car at your local racetrack.
Just like the rest of BMW Philippines’ offerings, it will come with a five-year or 200,000 km (whichever comes first) comprehensive BMW warranty for the car, an eight-year or 120,000 km warranty for the electric battery, and an included portable charger.
Photos by Sam Surla
