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Power Wars: BMW reaches new heights with next-generation M5

By GREG KABLE



When we gave you details on BMW’s new M5 due here next summer (Cover, April 26), we had to read between the lines to get the full picture. Now BMW has released the first official photos and more details.

At the new M5’s heart is a purpose-built 5.0-liter V10 delivering 507 hp. With individual throttle butterflies, BMW’s bi-Vanos variable valve timing, dual-flow stainless steel exhaust system and a stratospheric 8250-rpm redline, the BMW delivers its 507 hp at 7750 rpm and 383 lb-ft 6100 rpm. This is up 107 hp and 15 lb-ft on the outgoing model’s 4.9-liter V8 engine, making the new M5 is the most powerful road-going BMW ever.



The engine is mated to a third-generation version of BMW’s sequential manual gearbox (SMG), now boasting seven forward ratios and new electronics to speed shift times 20 percent. With 11 different shift programs, six in manual mode and five in automatic, the driver can tailor the gearbox’s action to suit the conditions. There’s even a launch control function.



Another new feature is the M5’s power button. At start up, the driver is given access to 400 hp in a default program, dubbed P400. Depressing the button unleashes P500 and the engine’s full 507 hp wallop along with a more responsive throttle. In P500 BMW says the new car will hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and its 155 mph top speed in 14.9 sec. With its speed-limiting chip removed, BMW says its new sedan will reach 205 mph, although company policy prohibits official modification, even at the dealer level.

Underpinning the new M5 is a modified version of the 5-series’ MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension. While the geometry and pick-up points are the same, the ride height has been reduced and more negative camber added to handle cornering forces BMW claims can top 1.3 g.

The new car also adopts electronic damping control (EDC), providing the driver with three stiffness levels: comfort, normal and sport. The EDC is linked to the M5’s power steering system, which provides the driver two assistance levels.

There’s also two-stage dynamic stability control (DSC); the first stage with grip levels corresponding to a standard 5-series, the second stage, dubbed M Dynamic, allowing what BMW describes as “greater levels of slip.” Helping to rein the new M5 in are impressive looking 14.75-inch (front) and 14.5-inch (rear) ventilated and cross-drilled steel discs with twin-piston aluminum calipers. BMW says 62 to 0 mph takes less than 118 ft and 124 to 0 mph less than 460 ft.

BMW claims the new M5 can lap the Nürburgring, where much of its development was done, in 8 minutes, 25 seconds less than the outgoing M5.

looks like a speedy set of wheels, but i cant get over how bad the new bmw's look.The headlights are all messed up.

All claims made by BMW?

I looooove that sound of that engine (high revving V10 with individual throttle butterflies = sex!) but too bad it's in a new 5-series and it's attached to a flappy-paddle with no manual option.

60 mph in 4.7 seconds and its 155 mph top speed in 14.9 sec



Wow, gets to its top speed in 14.9 seconds.

Fastest four door in the world?

You knew BMW was going to do something like this, what with the new overpowered Cadillac CTS-V and Audi S4, and so many other super-powered cars coming out and challenging the M5's sheer supieriority. BMW just had to completely fucking blow away everyone else, or they would be a dead duck. And now we have the new M5, capable of achieving escape velocity. Goddam. Good car.

BMW must have got the wrong idea then because the S4 and the CTS compete with the M3.

The CTS-V kinda bridges the gap between M3 and M5, but I agree, S4 is aimed squarely at the M3.

The M5's real competition is the Audi RS6 and the Mercedes E55 AMG, and maybe the Jag XJR if you're feeling generous.

It's all about the gearing...

V10 with a 8250 redline... I wonder if it was derived from their F1 motor... Ferrari has done it few times taking the F1 technology and putting it in the F50 and Enzo.
Any ideas on the sticker price on these? Over 100 Grand?

Like...Their whole lineup?

more like the S Type R, except that's crap.

good point. But F50 and Enzo just have detuned F1 engines... correct?

I don't think the design is that bad... and the engine is gonna make it all worth anyway.

How much is "383 lb-ft" in Newtron-metres?

0-155 can't be 14.9. That number has to be for 0-125

if any wants high res, ive resized the images and uploaded them to the site. 1600x1200 ofcourse

link: http://www.exoticcarsite.com/pages/bmw_e60_m5.htm

Not a whole lot. 387 lb-ft is a bit disappointing out of such a motor. Around 524Nm

387 ft-lbs. is actually excellent for an N/A 5 liter...my rule of thumb is that anything that's 75 ft./lbs. per liter is great...and 387 divided by 5 is 77.4.

This is up...15 lb-ft on the outgoing model’s 4.9-liter V8 engine. Wooo

The hope is that it's over a wider rev range (probably is).

Also, the car has better gearing and 113 more horses; it sounds like an improvement to me. It's just the styling that gets me, and the lack of a three-pedal option.

its a pity its so fucking ugly.

If any of you watched the Jeremy Clarkson Meets the Neighbors series that was posted, when he was in Germany, he went to Nurburging (anyone can race a lap on it for $12!!) and he got a ride from a current M5 driven by a girl who got the fastest lap record (in a passenger car) when she was 19 a couple of years ago.

Her time: 8 mins 16 seconds.

hmmmm....