This is the first ever BMW M car – based on existing BMW series – which will feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The BMW Concept XM might be the first to arrive on the market, but it is a bespoke product and not based on an existing series model. As far as the electric range, the XM’s battery had enough energy for 80 kilometers (WLTP) or 30 miles (EPA). The M5 could have a tad better range since we expect the sedan to be slightly lighter than the SUV. We’re loosely using “lighter” here since the current M5 is already a heavy car, and its electrified replacement will add bulk. Could it weigh over 2,000 kilograms? Quite possible.

The test mule in these photos is absolutely cloaked in camouflage, barely giving up an square inch of its actual design. There’s not only camo wrapping but tons of body panel fakery in play, here. BMW really doesn’t want anyone seeing the new M5 before it’s revealed. However, there are a couple of things we can still notice through the camo.

One of which is its seemingly sensible grille design. We now know BMW is saving the big, beaver-tooth kidneys for its ultra high-end cars, such as the 7 Series, X7, and XM. With that said, and the seemingly small-ish shape of the grilles in these photos, the BMW M5 will likely look quite normal. Its headlights seem rather swoopy. The new BMW M5, like the standard 5 Series, will also get flush door handles.

Speaking of the next BMW 5 Series, the new sedan will debut in 2023 with the electric i5, so the BMW M5 should land in 2024.

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The Fun Minivan

The 230e Active Tourer PHEV delivers 240 kW/326 hp and 480 Nm of torque, thanks to a combination of the combustion engine with 110 kW/150 hp and an electric motor – 130 kW/177 hp. The official performance figures put the 230e Active Tourer at 5.5 seconds for the standard sprint. The electric range is 90 km (56 miles) on the WLTP cycle, coming from a battery pack of 14.2 kWh (16.3 kWh gross). The electric motor is positioned at the rear axle, so thanks to its higher power output, the power distribution is often sent to the rear wheels. Who knew you can almost get a rear-wheel driven 2 Series Active Tourer?

The high voltage battery is placed in the underfloor structure of the 230e Active Tourer, therefore, the new minivan has a fairly low center of gravity which translates into a more dynamic and fun driving experience. The standard 2 Series Active Tourer has 470 liters of cargo space, but fold the rear seats and its cargo space expands for 1,455 liters. Hybrid models lose a bit of space, dropping to 406/1,370 liters. CO2 emissions are impressively low – between 22 and 30 g/km. Same goes for the fuel consumption  – 1.4-1.1 L/100 km, enough for an estimated range of 600 km/h.

Snappy And Efficient

To sample the first-ever BMW 23oe Active Tourer PHEV, we went for a spirited drive around Malaga, Spain. A lead car takes us through city center first where we get to experience the all-electric drivetrain and its regenerative braking. The intelligent system can automatically detect a car in front and will adjust the amount of braking accordingly. But if you put the car into Sport Mode, then the one-pedal feel takes over.

This is the most aggressive mode of the regen braking, yet the integration between the electric motor and the braking system is extremely smooth and almost unnoticeable. According to the BMW engineers on site, the braking system only takes over when the level of deceleration is 0.15 g. The Boost mode is another lovely feature in the new BMW 230e Active Tourer. A paddle shifter behind the steering wheel will activate the “fun mode” offering additional acceleration power for up to 10 seconds.

The 230e Active Tourer certainly feels faster than the quoted 5.5 seconds sprint, despite being about 200 kilograms heavier than the 223i. The steering is on the light side, but that’s expected from this platform, while the suspension’s firmness can greatly vary from Comfort to Sport Mode. The driving experience is certainly more enjoyable than the pure ICE models and it often feels more like an EV than hybrid.

The test sample was quite short, around 45 minutes of city and mountain roads driving, so there isn’t enough data to assess the electric range. But the onboard computer showed a real life range of 80 kilometers. Of course, that will vastly vary from driver to driver.

Should I Buy One?

BMW’s 230e Active Tourer is not only the rockstar of the minivan family, but of the entire PHEV lineup at the moment. It’s likely that future BMWs will adopt this drivetrain, but until then, the 230e Active Tourer offers a unique proposition to customers and we can see why it could become a huge volume car for the brand. It’s practical and eco-friendly, and will make for a fun minivan picking up your kids from school.

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For now, we can’t really tell what its full exterior will look like, as there’s incredibly heavy camo wrapped around the body, to keep prying eyes away. However, one thing the engineers couldn’t hide (actually they were forced by the law) were the stickers on the doors. They say, loud and clear, that this is a ‘Hybrid Test Vehicle’. Therefore, this serves as the best possible confirmation that the next M5 will get a hybrid setup, even though BMW has been mum on the topic so far.

For now though, we don’t know exactly what kind of drivetrain we’re looking at here. Sure, we know it will have electric assistance, but what about the internal combustion engine? Will it be a V8? Will it be a straight-six? We just don’t know right now. Most likely, it will be the same powertrain that will find itself under the sheet metal of the BMW XM once it comes out, which would make it an S68 twin-turbo V8 with electric assistance, good for up to 750 horsepower on the top-tier models.

In any eventuality, there’s no playing around when it comes to keep that engine cool and the weight in check. Even though this M5 prototype is under heavy camo, the front end has a lot of open slats in it, to feed air into the engine bay. Furthermore, the brake discs look huge and they are perforated, giving off the impression that they can keep this car’s weight in check. And they will be hard pressed because the upcoming M5, with its hybrid drivetrain and everything, will most likely gain some serious weight.

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