Car news today: BMW reveals new M5 with 535kW hybrid V8, Volkswagen announces Mk8.5 Golf R, and more – 26 June 2024

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Thanks for joining us this Wednesday June 26th 2024. Notably in car news today: BMW has pulled the covers off its high-performance G90 M5 Sedan with plug-in hybrid V8 power and up to 1000Nm, and Volkswagen has announced its updated Golf R hot hatch which is more powerful than before. 

Browse this issue:

• New BMW M5 debuts with 535kW hybrid V8
• Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf R revealed  
• BMW to revive the 6 Series: report 
• Rivian to form joint venture with Volkswagen
• Reviewed: 2025 BMW M5 walkaround 

New BMW M5 debuts with 535kW hybrid V8

• The next BMW M5 high-performance luxury sedan, the G90, has just been revealed, and the good news is that it retains a V8 petrol engine while debuting PHEV electrification. 

• The G90 M5 will use a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine with a plug-in hybrid system and transmission-located electric motor to produce a combined system output of 535kW/1000Nm. It’s sent to the road via BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system with switchable RWD.  

• The electric motor alone produces 145kW/280Nm, or roughly the equivalent outputs of a base Mini Cooper Electric. 

• Standard equipment for the BMW M5 will include a sports exhaust system, rear-biased all-wheel drive, adaptive M suspension, M compound braking system and staggered 20-inch/21-inch alloy wheels.

• Inside, the new M5 will use BMW’s Curved Display, along with BMW Operating System 8.5, head-up display, flat-bottomed steering wheel, four-zone climate control, Bowers & Wilkins sound system and Merino leather seat upholstery. 

• The new M5 is due in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2024, with pricing yet to be confirmed. 

Volkswagen reveals its Mk8.5 Golf R hot hatch 

• Volkswagen has pulled the covers off its updated all-wheel-drive performance 2025 Golf R hatch.

• It’s now more powerful than before and will produce 245kW/420Nm, or 10kW/20Nm up on the the previous Mk8 Golf R.

• Also new for the model in 2025 are new LED headlights and tail lights, along with a new infotainment system and a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen. A new voice assistant featuring ChatGPT functionality is also standard for 2024. 

• Another interesting feature is the debut of a ‘special’ drive mode designed for track use, sitting alongside the existing drift mode. An Akrapovic exhaust system is also available as an option. 

• The Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf R is expected in Australia in the second or third quarter of 2025, with pricing still to be confirmed.  

BMW to revive the 6 Series: report 

• BMW is reportedly planning to revive its old 6 Series nameplate, a model that has not been produced since 2018.

• According to reports by Automotive News, BMW will launch a 6 Series coupe and convertible in the second half of 2026 based on the brand’s cluster architecture.

• The new-generation model will be able to support ICE, petrol-electric hybrid and BEV drivetrains. The news comes as BMW works to provide not just popular models, but niche ones, too. 

• Meanwhile, BMW has decided to discontinue its 8 Series and 4 Series with combustion engines. BMW has sold just eight examples of the 8 Series in Australia so far in 2024. 

Rivian to form joint venture with the Volkswagen Group

• Rivian, the American manufacturer of electric crossovers and pickups, has secured investment of USD$1 billion (AUD$1.5 billion) from the Volkswagen Group to help roll out new software-defined vehicles. Volkswagen expects to invest an additional $4 billion (AUD$6 billion) by 2026.

• The news comes as Volkswagen deals with delays with its current Cariad software unit, which has forced the automaker to postpone launches of some new vehicles. 

• While electric vehicle software development will be a joint venture between the two automakers, Rivian and Volkswagen will still develop vehicles separately. 

• Rivian currently builds the R1T pick up truck, the R1S SUV and has recently shown images of two future small SUVs, the R2 and R3. 

2025 BMW M5 preview walkaround

• Chasing Cars contributor Tom Baker’s walkaround of the 2025 BMW M5 was published, including his first impressions and thoughts on the high-performance G90 sedan.
  
• Baker positively addressed the fact BMW has continued to use a V8 engine, and also noted that the M5 is still one of BMW’s most important halo vehicles.
  
• Baker also noted that the BMW M5 continues to be “a very plush, very impressive and very expensive four-door sedan”. The M5 is expected to be priced close to $300,000.
  
• Reviewer Baker said in the video that he is very much looking forward to driving the BMW M5 when it goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2024. 

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Thursday 27th June at 4.30pm Sydney time.