Initially available in four derivatives, the new BMW 5 Series Touring offers a choice of two petrol cars, the 523i and 535i, and two diesel models, the 520d and 530d. All four are packed with innovative technology that ensures class-leading performance, fuel economy and CO2 emissions, while providing an elegant, comfortable and driver-oriented estate car.

All models feature 40/20/40 flat-folding rear seat backrests, a luggage load cover that retracts and lowers automatically with the tailgate and a self opening rear window for ease of loading smaller items. Also included as standard across the range is self-levelling air suspension at the rear to ensure that the Touring is unaffected when carrying heavy loads.

The new Touring has the longest wheelbase in its class providing an extra 13mm of knee room for rear passengers compared to the previous 5 Series.

The boot capacity of the new Touring is 560 litres, 60 more than the outgoing E60 model, and a huge 1,670 litres with all rear seats folded. A further option is Extended Storage that includes “cargo” functionality for rear seats. This allows the rear seat backrests to be fixed in a more upright position thereby increasing luggage capacity by 30 litres and minimising wasted space behind rear seats.

Otherwise the new 5 Series Touring is as per the saloon, featuring an award winning range of four and six cylinder engines, the option of BMW’s new eight-speed automatic transmission and more EfficientDynamics technologies than you can shake a stick at. There’s also a host of options to lift the base price into stratospheric territory, although usually it’s only necessary to spend between £4,000 and £9,000 on such luxuries as 19-inch alloy wheels, sport seats, anthracite headlining, sport leather steering wheel and high-gloss exterior trim, adaptive headlights or four-wheel active steering.

Pricing ranges from £30,380 for the base model 520d Touring, through to £39,650 for the 535i Touring. The 523i Touring is available at £33,585 and 530d Touring retails at £39,400.

The new 5 Series Touring goes on sale in the UK on 18 September, 2010.

Watch the video of the new 5 Series Touring on SkiddPlayer

UPDATE: For those of you that missed the webcast (and you didn’t miss much!), there will be a recorded version available shortly. In the meantime, here are the first pictures of the new F10 based 5-series saloon.

Whilst we wait for UK-specific details, you can browse the US press release via the following link:

Also why not take a look through the video below, which offers a virtual tour of the new 5-series.

Early opinions seem to be favourable based on similarities shared with the recently released 5-series Gran Turismo and the 7-series. As with the 7-series, BMW seems to be towing a safer line with the design of the F10 5-series, compared to the more radical step taken by Chris Bangle with its E60 predecessor.

You can check back later this evening for further details and a gallery of images, then let us know what you think.