2026 BMW M5: 717 hp Plug-In Hybrid V8, 68 km Electric, From EUR 145,200

The seventh-generation BMW M5 is a plug-in hybrid: a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and an electric motor built into the 8-speed M Steptronic gearbox together deliver 535 kW (727 PS, about 717 hp) and 1,000 Nm. BMW says this is the first M5 with an electrified drivetrain, and that the lineup now offers two body styles for only the third time in the model's 40-year history, a sedan and the M5 Touring wagon. Because the battery can be plugged in, the car can also drive on electricity alone, at speeds up to 140 km/h and for up to 68 km on the European WLTP cycle. Germany lists the M5 sedan from EUR 145,200 and the Touring from EUR 147,200 (both including 19% VAT, BMW Germany price list valid from July 2026). The numbers below are BMW's own, with market-specific differences labelled.

Performance & Specs

BMW calls the system M HYBRID. The V8 and a 145 kW (197 PS / 194 hp) permanent-magnet electric motor combine for 535 kW (727 PS, about 717 hp) and 1,000 Nm of system torque, and BMW notes that the output depends on the battery's state of charge. The motor's own 280 Nm is multiplied to an effective 450 Nm at the gearbox input by a patented pre-gearing. Power reaches all four wheels through M xDrive with an active M differential, and the driver can choose 4WD, 4WD Sport (rear-biased) or 2WD with stability control off. The sedan accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and the Touring needs 3.6 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h, or 305 km/h with the optional M Driver's Package. Fully electric driving is possible up to 140 km/h.

Powertrain	Plug-in hybrid, 4.4 L twin-turbo V8 + electric motor, AWD
Power	535 kW (727 PS / 717 hp) system
Torque	1,000 Nm system
0–100 km/h	3.5 s sedan, 3.6 s Touring
Battery	18.6 kWh net (22.1 kWh gross)
Electric range	62–68 km WLTP (sedan)

Dimensions & Practicality

Length	5,096 mm
Width	1,970 mm
Height	1,510 mm (Touring 1,516 mm)
Wheelbase	3,006 mm (sedan)
Ground clearance	115 mm (sedan, BMW preliminary data)

The M5 is a big, heavy car: BMW Germany quotes an EU kerb weight of 2,515 kg for the sedan and 2,555 kg for the Touring, and a 60-litre fuel tank sits alongside the battery. The sedan's boot holds 466 litres. The Touring's tailgate opens onto 500 litres with the rear seats up and 1,630 litres with the 40:20:40 split rear backrest folded, which BMW's launch release describes as flexible space for leisure and travel. Both body styles are rated to tow 2,000 kg braked (750 kg unbraked), and the Touring adds a standard pass-through for long loads. The Touring is 5,096 mm long and 1,970 mm wide, the same as the sedan, and, according to BMW's Touring press release, 36 mm longer and 70 mm wider than the standard 5 Series Touring.

Charging & Battery

The lithium-ion battery sits under the floor and stores 18.6 kWh net, which BMW's launch data sheet pairs with 22.1 kWh gross. In Germany BMW quotes 62-68 km of WLTP electric range for the sedan and 60-66 km for the Touring, with the city-cycle figure at 69-72 km. These are lower than the 67-69 km (sedan) and 61-67 km (Touring) in the 2024 launch releases, so the current July 2026 list is the one to rely on. The onboard charger takes AC power at up to 11 kW, and BMW says an empty battery fills in 2 hours 15 minutes. BMW does not publish a DC fast-charging figure, so this is an AC-only plug-in. The M5 uses a weighted WLTP consumption of 17.7-17.3 kWh/100 km and 5.2-4.9 l/100 km for the sedan (base specification), and 10.7-10.5 l/100 km once the battery is empty.

Design & Interior

BMW gives the M5 flared wheel arches, wider tracks and a re-drawn front and rear apron to separate it from the standard 5 Series. The front carries a large M kidney grille with Iconic Glow contour lighting as standard, and the rear has slim light units and a two-part diffuser with a twin tailpipe on each side. The Touring has a long roofline and a black roof as standard. Wheels are 20 inches at the front and 21 inches at the rear, with 285/40 ZR20 and 295/35 ZR21 tyres. Inside, the driver sits in M multifunction seats behind a new M steering wheel, and BMW's launch release describes Merino leather, M-specific graphics and a high-quality surround-sound system. The Touring launch release adds that the rear backrest can be split and folded for skis or golf bags.

Technology & Features

The cockpit uses BMW's curved display, a 12.3-inch information display joined to a 14.9-inch control display, running the iDrive system on BMW Operating System 8.5. Its M-specific content shows engine speed, gear, Drivelogic setting, battery charge and the chosen M setup, and M Shift Lights appear at the top of the instrument screen. The My BMW app can start charging and locate the car, and the optional Parking Assistant Professional can park the car while the driver stands outside it. The powertrain also has an eDrive and eCONTROL logic that can hold or build charge during a trip, and the electric motor fills in under acceleration so the V8 responds without delay.

Safety & ADAS

Standard equipment listed in BMW's launch release includes front collision warning with brake intervention, lane departure warning with active steering return, and cruise control with braking function, plus the Parking Assistant with a reversing assistant and trailer assistant. Driving Assistant Professional and Parking Assistant Professional come in the optional Ultimate Package. BMW does not state an SAE automation level for the M5, and we found no Euro NCAP or NHTSA rating for this specific model.

Available Versions

Pricing & Availability

BMW Germany's price list valid from July 2026 (edition of 28 May 2026) puts the M5 Limousine at EUR 145,200 and the M5 Touring at EUR 147,200, both including 19% VAT and excluding delivery (EUR 122,016.81 and EUR 123,697.48 before VAT). BMW's 2024 launch plan named Germany and the USA as the most important markets, followed by Britain, Canada and Switzerland. In the USA, BMW USA's own pages list the 2027 model year M5 at a starting MSRP of $123,300 for the sedan and $125,300 for the Touring, against $121,500 for the 2025 Touring when BMW USA announced it in August 2024. BMW USA quotes 717 hp, 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds for the sedan and 3.5 seconds for the Touring, and an all-electric range of 25 miles for the sedan and up to 24 miles for the Touring. BMW USA's 2024 launch release listed a 14.8 kWh usable battery for the US-specification car. In Israel the sedan went on sale in March 2025 through the importer Delek Motors, which announced a launch price of NIS 1,199,900 at the time (a single xDrive plug-in hybrid trim); we did not find a current price list. Delek cut prices of other BMW M models in June 2026, but we found no M5 update. Walla Cars reported that the Touring would be offered in Israel by special order; we did not find an Israeli price or listing for it.

How It Compares

The closest sibling is the BMW i5 M60 xDrive, which shares the M5's 5 Series body but is fully electric: it has 124 hp less at its My Mode Sport peak (510 hp in standard mode), costs EUR 45,000 less in Germany, and covers up to 539 km on a charge against the M5's 68 km. The M5 trades that electric range for a V8, a petrol tank and a 3.5-second sprint. Against the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, a V8 plug-in hybrid with 575 kW (782 PS / 771 hp) of system output, up to 85 km of electric range and a 2.9-second 0-100 km/h time with the Sport Chrono package, which Porsche Germany lists from EUR 241,200 (about USD 271,808 at 1 EUR = 1.1269 USD), the M5 has about 54 hp less (717 hp against 771 hp), 17 km less electric range (68 km against 85 km) and a slower sprint (3.5 s against 2.9 s), but it costs EUR 96,000 less in Germany. Both are V8 plug-in hybrids, so the drivetrain type is the same. The i5 M60 figures come from our own coverage of that car and the Panamera figures from Porsche Germany's model page; all are German-market figures.