BMW announced that the next-generation 5 Series will launch this October and will arrive with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric variants. Additionally, the upcoming all-electric i5 sedan will be joined by an all-electric 5 Series Touring wagon that will debut in the spring of 2024 as a one-of-a-kind vehicle in its class.

From what we have seen, the car is looking like it will be every bit the class-leading performance sedan that we've come to know it as, and no doubt the addition of electric propulsion will only help its already impressive acceleration times. No word has come out yet regarding nonhybrid models, but the car may also make use of a turbocharged unit in lower trims.

The new line is also set to debut more comfortably than ever with version 8.5 of BMW's iDrive operating system along with the BMW curved display previously seen in other models like the 7 series and X7.

Other news is that the all-electric model will be offered in M Performance guise at some point in the future thanks to the success of the i4 M50. The M50 produces 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque thanks to its dual motor setup.

"The all-electric BMW i4 M50 shows how BMW blends dynamic performance and electric mobility to perfection," said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. "It was the best-selling BMW M model worldwide in 2022. A fully electric performance version from BMW M GmbH will also be included in the new BMW 5 Series Sedan line-up."

The all-electric model should come in eDrive40, xDrive40, M50, and M60 trims with power up to 600hp, so there's a lot to look forward to with the launch later this year.

As for the Touring model, we assume it will adopt most of the same trim and power structures as the sedan, with the exception of an M5 Touring. From our spy pictures so far, the wagon looks good even under all the camouflage which makes us even sadder as there's no word on if it will be offered in the US.

In the past, we would assume just as much and move on, but when rival Audi appears to be having such great success with a high-performance RS6 Avant wagon in the US, we wouldn't put it past BMW wanting a slice of the long roof pie.

2022 was a milestone year for the 5 Series as the famous Bavarian sports sedan turned 50. More than 10 million 5 sSeries have been built since 1972, and the upcoming eighth generation is shaping up to be even more groundbreaking than ever before.