Tag Archives: BMW

BMW M5 Touring Goes Bold with Individual Paint and Hybrid Punch

While the M2 CS at Legends of the Autobahn was a highlight in its own right, BMW quietly stole the show for wagon enthusiasts by rolling out something even more special: the new M5 Touring. But this wasn’t just any longroof M5. In keeping with the exclusivity of the event, Munich brought out a particularly striking example finished in Sepia Brown Metallic—a hue available through the expansive BMW Individual program.

And it wears the shade remarkably well. The deep, reddish-brown metallic shifts beautifully in natural light, made even more dramatic by the wagon’s broad shoulders and aggressive stance. Helping the cause are optional bi-color Style 952M wheels, which frame the gold-finished carbon ceramic brakes. Blacked-out trim elements—including the mirrors, roof, spoiler, and kidney grille—provide just enough contrast to let the paint do most of the talking.

Inside, BMW resisted the temptation to get too flashy. This example sticks to a Silverstone interior, which plays it safe without being stark. BMW does offer bolder shades—Dark Violet and Deep Lagoon among them—but pairing those with Sepia Brown could have been, let’s say, a questionable design choice. Aside from a red 12 o’clock marker on the steering wheel, the cabin feels almost understated, especially compared with the flamboyant exterior.

Of course, the real controversy doesn’t come from the paint choices but from what lies under the hood. The latest M5 debuts a hybrid powertrain—a move that’s ruffled some purist feathers. Yet there’s no denying the numbers: a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (S68) combined with an electric motor produces a staggering 717 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. BMW claims the Touring will sprint to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, though based on our first drive, it feels even quicker. The longroof is every bit as ballistic as its sedan counterpart, just with more room for groceries, ski gear, or, let’s be honest, bragging rights.

It’s also hard not to feel a twinge of nostalgia when seeing Sepia Brown Metallic. BMW fans will remember Sepang Bronze, which debuted on the legendary V10-powered E60 M5 back in 2004. The new shade is lighter and redder, but it brings the same sense of individuality to a car that already sits at the top of the super-wagon food chain.

At a starting price north of $130,000, the M5 Touring is no ordinary family hauler. But that’s exactly the point. Whether you’d spec yours in Sepia Brown or something else from BMW Individual’s endless palette, the takeaway is clear: BMW still knows how to make wagon lovers feel special.

So the real question is, would you order your six-figure super wagon in this color?

Photo: BMWBlog

BMW Plots Hardcore Seven-Seat Off-Roader to Take on G-Wagen and Defender

BMW is gearing up to storm the luxury off-road battlefield with an all-new flagship SUV designed to lock horns with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Land Rover Defender. Known internally as G74, the yet-to-be-named model will be built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, starting in 2029, sharing production lines with the X5, X6, and X7.

Unlike today’s X5 Off-Road Package, the G74 isn’t a lightly tweaked soft-roader—it’s BMW’s first model conceived for serious off-pavement use in nearly a century. A senior BMW executive confirmed development is “well under way,” noting that it’s “more than just discussions” and that an internal combustion engine is a certainty at launch.

Design and Capability: Rugged Meets Neue Klasse

While its design remains under wraps, expect a mix of Neue Klasse design language with classic, blocky 4×4 cues. Engineers are targeting greater ground clearance, long-travel suspension, and approach/departure/breakover angles that surpass anything in BMW’s current lineup.

Inside, the G74 will offer three-row seating for seven and a cabin that outshines the X7 in both materials and tech. It’s expected to carry either a new nameplate or potentially revive the X8 badge originally planned for a coupe-styled SUV.

Under the Skin: CLAR, Evolved for the Wild

Underpinning the G74 will be a heavily modified CLAR platform, chosen for its scalability and compatibility with large BMW SUVs. Mechanical highlights are likely to include long-travel air suspension, up to three locking differentials, advanced AWD, and even four-wheel steering—not only for rock-crawling agility, but also for high-speed stability.

Powertrains: ICE, Hybrid, and Maybe Electric

BMW plans to launch with a combustion engine, but multiple electrification strategies are on the table. Among them:

  • Range-extender hybrid: Using an engine solely as a generator to power electric motors, a setup BMW is developing in collaboration with ZF.
  • Full EV: Potentially rivaling upcoming electric off-roaders like the Rivian R1S, Scout Traveler, and China’s BYD Yangwang U8.
  • Hub motors: Compact in-wheel units co-developed with DeepDrive, which could unlock extreme maneuverability.

The range-extender angle is particularly appealing for markets like China, where demand for such drivetrains is booming—especially after lukewarm sales of the electric G-Class.

A Return to BMW’s Off-Road Roots

The G74’s spiritual predecessor is the BMW 325 military off-roader of 1937–1940. Built on a ladder-frame chassis with 4WD, three locking diffs, and early four-wheel steering, it was a technical showcase for its time. Only 3,225 were built, but its legacy as BMW’s last true go-anywhere machine looms large.

With the G74, BMW isn’t just building another SUV—it’s re-entering a segment dominated by icons, aiming to prove that Munich can do more than autobahn stormers. If they get it right, the G-Class and Defender might finally have some serious Bavarian competition.

Source: Automotive News

BMW’s ‘HypersonX’ Wants Your EV to Sound Like a Spaceship

BMW has a new buzzword for your automotive vocabulary list: HypersonX. It’s the Bavarian brand’s latest attempt to inject some drama into the otherwise whisper-quiet world of electric driving. Instead of Hans Zimmer’s cinematic flourishes—remember IconicSounds?—future Neue Klasse models will come alive thanks to the in-house BMW Sound Design Studio. The team has cooked up an impressive 43 different audio cues, from turn signals to full-blown driving soundtracks, tailored for both Personal and Sport modes.

A fresh social media teaser just gave us a taste of what’s in store, and—no surprise—it’s pure sci-fi. In Sport mode, the upcoming NA5 iX3 sounds like it just jumped out of a warp gate. The layered, pulsating tones are meant to “transport the feeling of speed and BMW-typical driving dynamics authentically into the cabin,” according to the company. Translation: BMW wants your right foot to feel like it’s piloting a star cruiser.

Like today’s artificial soundtracks, the HypersonX audio is piped through the cabin speakers and can be switched off if you prefer the stealth approach. BMW knows it’s polarizing—some drivers want a clean EV experience, others want something visceral to accompany acceleration. The good news is, you get to choose.

It’s not all sci-fi hums, though. BMW is also cooking up more aggressive, engine-like tones for its M-badged EVs. We’ve already heard a prototype electric M3 with a synthesized inline-six soundtrack—an intriguing way to bridge the gap between tradition and technology. And for those who want the real thing, the upcoming G84 M3 will still pack a bona fide six-cylinder, with BMW confirming the inline-six and V8 aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Let’s be honest: HypersonX is a gimmick. But in a segment where differentiation is everything, it’s a calculated one. EVs don’t need to sound like anything—but BMW is betting that you’ll want yours to sound like something. And if that something happens to make your daily commute feel like a sci-fi chase scene? Well, there are worse ways to make rush-hour traffic a little more entertaining.

Source: BMW