BIMMER HAULER; Latest 5 Series Touring gets bigger, lighter, faster and better-looking than the sedan.(News)

Byline: MATT DAVIS

Seeing as the best year ever for the recently discontinued 5 Series Sport Wagon in the United States was a tick less than 4000 units, the near-luxury midsize station wagon segment for BMW in our country is understandably more like a niche. This translates into the new, third-generation 5 Series Touring not arriving here until spring 2005 as a 2006 model. But in Europe, the car is on sale now.

Part two of how this translates regards engine choices. Gas engines include the 525i straight six and 545i V8 to be joined later in the summer by the 530i. But this new version will be available in the United States only as the 530i. The main reason given is that dealers here wanted only the one they could move off the lot quickest at a decent profit. Sadly, that one was not the new 329-hp V8 available in the sedan.

While driving the 545i recently in Munich, we found that proportionately the Touring body is better-looking than the controversial sedan. In fact, worldwide 5 Series sedan sales are falling below expectations and the hope is that by squeezing out the Touring sooner, sales can spike up.

With the bigger body comes less weight, thanks to the aluminum architecture with judicious use of high-tensile steel at stress points. Interior room is up in all directions, the only place where it feels odd is the rear seats, which have been placed so low in relation to the new big shoulder line that any adult could feel like a little kid back there.

Dynamic Drive with active suspension helping to level ...