It seems that demand for BMW’s 530e iPerformance
model has been good, prompting the automaker to release its plug-in hybrid
5-Series as a Touring.
We anticipate that an official reveal could be in the works sooner
rather than later, perhaps even this March at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. Trying to spot any differences
between this car and a regular 5-Series Touring won’t yield many results as,
aside from the plug-in port on the front-left fender, there aren’t many.
Powering the 530e iPerformance Touring will be a
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder working alongside an electric motor for a
total of 248 HP and 420 Nm of torque. This very same
powertrain takes the Sedan from zero to 96 km/h in 6.1 seconds (6.2
for 0-100 km/h). The only available transmission is an 8-speed
automatic with paddle shifters.
We can also expect the Touring to wear the same 9.2
kWh battery pack, which you can charge up to 100% in less than 7 hours via a
120-volt outlet, although if you have access to a Level 2 charger, you can do
it in under 3 hours. By the way, that wireless charging mat unveild by BMW last
year? That should work on the 530e iPerformance Touring, too.
When the car does launch and starts rolling into
showrooms, customers will finally have a BMW to consider over the hybrid version
of the E-Class Estate. The Germans have no plans to bring any wagon version of their current
lineup to America.
