THE sixth generation of BMW's 5 Series estate will be on the road in the summer and will be available as both a plug-in hybrid and an all-electric vehicle.

The new 5 Series Touring will be priced from £69,040 and the line up will grow later in 2024 with the arrival of the PHEV.

Slightly larger than its predecessor the new model now measures 5.06 metres long with a wheelbase of almost three metres.

It will be available in four trim levels - Sport Edition, M Sport, M Sport Pro and the range-topping i5 M60 which will cost from £99,090.

Prices for other models are still to be announced.

Cargo space now ranges from 570 to 1,700 litres and the car is fitted with an underfloor compartment for the luggage area partition net and cover as well as the charging cable for the all-electric and plug-in hybrid models.

The new BMW i5 Touring will be available in two versions from the outset with the rear-wheel-drive eDrive40 Touring having a claimed range of up to 348 miles, a maximum speed of 120mph and a 0 to 62mph acceleration time of 6.1 seconds from its motor which develops 340hp.

The all-wheel-drive i5 M60 xDrive Touring has 601hp available and is fitted with launch control and a boost function which shaves its acceleration time down to 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 143mph. Range is said to be 314 miles at best on a full charge.

Performance data for the 530e PHEV see it with an acceleration time 6.4 seconds, a maximum of 143mph and a theoretical fuel economy of up to 403mpg with emissions of just 16g/km and a maximum of 60 miles on electricity power.

Inside, the i5 Touring is fitted with BMW's Curved Display which includes a 12.3-inch instrument panel and a 14.9-inch central screen which form a fully digital output.

There's also new sports seats and a flatter bottomed steering wheel and the the BMW Interaction Bar which gives quick access to certain control functions.

BMW says the newcomer will be launched in the UK in May.