Well, here it is, the new BMW 5 Series Touring, which has just launched in the UK. It will offer the same trim levels and equipment as the 5 Series saloon and also the same ICE and electric powertrains. So no need for us to go into semantics, it’s a 5 Series but with the added practicality of increased boot space. Prices start at £60K for the 530e plugin-hybrid and rise to £70K for the entry-level i5 340bhp EV.

Energy for the top-of-the-range BMW i5 M60 xDrive Touring is supplied by an 81.2 kWh and two integrated drive units on the front and rear axles, delivering a combined electric all-wheel drive with up to 601 hp. When M Launch Control or M Sport Boost is activated, the system torque increases to 820 Nm (605 ft-lb).

The M60 i5 accelerates from a standstill to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds and its top speed is electronically limited to 143 mph. It is priced at £100,000 before options. Here’s the sting in the tail, the i5 M50 has a max real world range of around 220 miles.

You know what I am about to say, don’t you? Yes the Tesla Model S Plaid is way more powerful, more efficient and has a real-world range of around 350 miles. You only buy the i5 M60 if you have a plutocratic business case to buy one, otherwise, it is an epic waste of money.

The cheaper 520i M Sport, with its 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter 208bhp engine, should arrive at… I don’t know when. Presumably, it’s another well-timed press announcement away. The current saloon variant is priced at £51K, and typically, the estate variants tend to be priced £2K-5K higher.

That’s £50k for a BMW 5 Series? how-they get so darn expensive now?