CharadeSG: NewCar: BMW 5 Series Touring launch, CnK & May Day Classic Cars Meet

Monday, 26 May 2025

NewCar: BMW 5 Series Touring launch, CnK & May Day Classic Cars Meet

BMW Asia has collaborated with Cars 'N' Kopi to host another fresh car meet at Dempsey Hill, presenting the new BMW M5 Touring.

BMW in collaboration with Cars 'N' Kopi has delivered another reason to wake up early and bathe in the scorching morning sun.

Star of the show? The 5-Series Touring. Not just the normal models were present, so was the BMW M5 Touring.

The new M5 Touring is a heavyweight with some serious rocket boost strapped to the back for good measure. The idea of full internal combustion engine is long gone, the M5 being a plug-in hybrid.

However, the specs on paper are not hindered, with 727 horsepower and a 0-100 time of 3.6 seconds. Not to mention that for a top-of-the-line M product (that isn't a cut-paste badge), BMW has kept a firebreather of a V8 in the new M5 instead of following Mercedes' decision with downsizing.

If they changed it to another engine like a 4-cylinder, there would probably have been more knives being sharpened by the brand's loyal fans, but it hasn't been such, only a lot of comments about its weight. It weighs 2.5 tonnes, most definitely a shock to someone like me who have gotten used to lightweights and mid-size cars.

Again, it still isn't a slouch. The 4.4-litre V8 throws the M5 Touring to a quoted 305km/h top speed using the chunky V8. As its a plug-in hybrid, not all power and consumption is used by the engine. The V8 makes 585 horsepower, and torque is assisted by the motors to produce 1000Nm of torque.

Its definitely an improvement to have the hybrid system assist the engine, and the specs reflect it.

BMW's official presence brought about owners and fans alike.

"Joy Of Touring" slogan lined the event area, all Touring models on full display. Included but limited to the M5 was models like the i5 eDrive40 Touring.

On display also includes some use-cases of the Touring models - transporting a bike or lining the boot with a fluffy floormat and pillows.

Part of the public engagement was for visitors to tag BMW to claim do a scratch-and-win card for free gifts. Part of the gifts were a handheld fan, which was definitely helpful for the dreadful morning sun.

Since it is a Cars 'N' Kopi meet, many enthusiasts and owners showed up to park their BMW vehicles in support of the brand. Alpinas too, for that matter.

Of course, apart from BMW, there were many cars overall who still showed up.

With the meet being hosted at the same day (Labour Day) as Singapore Classic Cars Meet 2025, the turnout in Dempsey Hill on this day was one of the most crowded Cars 'N' Kopi meets in recent years. I drove in an hour before the slated start of the meet and by 8am, cars were already double-parking.

This seasoned puppy wondering whether it should convince its owner about the advantages of
a wagon.

But really, not just the selection of BMW cars were eclectric, but the cars that attended the meet were too. From super unheard of nameplates like Gineta, to classic American muscle cars, this meet was impressively vibrant with many makes and types of cars.

Most interesting to me within the context of BMW were two Alpina models plus a M3 CSL being present. Not to mention the obligatory M3 Tourings that also were present.