SMC Asia Car Distributors Corporation, the official distributor of BMW, adds another exciting electric performance vehicle to its already broad EV portfolio (probably the most extensive selection of EVs for any single car brand locally).
Unveiled at the 2024 Philippine International Motor Show, the i5 M60 xDrive Touring is a wagon of instant desire. I am a wagon fanboy here.
Donning an aptly named finish called Fire Red metallic, this 601hp (442kW) all-wheel-drive electric beast runs on front and rear electric motors. All 795Nm of instant torque easily propels this wagon from 0-100km/h in a mere 3.9 seconds.
Its 81.2kWh battery can take you as far as 506km on a single charge (CCS Type 2 standard), with a maximum AC charging capacity of 22kW (instead of the usual 11kW). This makes AC charging significantly faster.
All the proper M embellishments (both functional and aesthetic) come with the i5 M60 wagon. The most notable are the huge, shuriken-like 21-inch wheels shod in 255/35 (front) and 285/30 (rear) Continental EcoContact 6Q tires. Behind the stunning wheels, large M Sport red brake calipers hugging internally ventilated discs present equally strong stopping power.
Carbon-fiber trim starts from the front chin to the side skirts, tastefully ending with the sporty diffuser at the tail. Each side mirror also comes with a carbon-fiber shell. All these contrast really well with this specific body color. M badges all around subtly act as the little cherries on this delicious red velvet cake of a car.
The cockpit stays true to the wagon’s M character with a flat-bottom steering wheel with a red stripe at 12 o’clock. A boost paddle switch located behind the left spoke gives max juice when needed.
More glossy carbon-fiber trim finishes the M vibe in the cabin. Of course, premium leather seats with ample bolstering make this tourer ready for long road trips or a day on the circuit.
Being a wagon, performance is matched by practicality. Headroom and legroom are more than decent for five occupants, and 570L of initial cargo space is brought up to 1,700L with the rear seats folded. Definitely useful when your wife’s needs are just as important in acquiring a vehicle.
I recently managed to get behind the wheel of this car, and I must stay my initial impressions made me want to drive it more. M driving dynamics are further enhanced with Integral Active Steering. The rear wheels are capable of turning up to 2.5°, making this wagon handle bends with greater ease aside from better stability when going fast.
Balancing performance is a slew of safety tech. These include acoustic protection for pedestrians, airbags all over the cabin that provide crash protection from head to toe, dynamic traction control, dynamic stability control, cornering brake control, side-impact protection, and antilock braking system. Drive and park assist features such as an all-around view camera and park distance control (front and rear) come as standard.
All these considered, the i5 M60 xDrive Touring is such a desirable package aimed at a specific, more mature type of BMW customer. The price of P7,990,000 isn’t exactly reasonable, but you do get a whole lot for what you pay for. After all, “expensive” is relative, especially when it pulls hard at your heartstrings.
Make sure to visit the BMW booth to see this beauty in the metal until October 27.
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