We received our first taste of the new M5 Concept during the weekend thanks to a series of photos that leaked from a press event in Germany, but today, BMW came out with an official release detailing its sports saloon ahead of its world premiere at the Auto Shanghai 2011 in China later this month.
The Concept M5 is essentially 99 percent production ready, so don’t expect any surprises in terms of styling at the presentation of the production model at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September this year.
The highlight of the fifth generation of the M5 will be the new twin-turbocharged V8 engine lurking under the bonnet. BMW officials have already confirmed that the engine is a development of the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 555HP and 680Nm or 501 lb-ft of peak torque, tweaked to deliver more power. However, the German company is still keeping mum on output numbers.
What BMW did disclose is that compared to the fourth generation of the M5’s 507HP V10 power unit, the newly developed V8 turbo has a significantly increased output level, whilst at the same time lowering previous fuel consumption and emission levels by at least 25 percent.
In the new M5, power is delivered to the rear wheels by a seven-speed M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic, which was specifically tuned to the new V8 engine’s performance characteristics. The M5 also gets an Auto Start Stop function.
BMW added that the F10 M5 will feature exclusive M suspension components such as the inter alia, the wheel suspension systems, specific axle kinematics as well as powerful and weight-optimised brakes. A new Active M Differential that optimises vehicle stability using targeted variation of locking torque between the right and left drive wheels, plus 20-inch forged alloy wheels shod tires size 265/35 ZR20 at the front and 265/35 ZR20 at the back, are also part of the package.
As for the car’s exterior, BMW’s designers opted for a discrete appearance with a typical M-style front bumper, side gills on the front fenders, a new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser that houses twin tailpipes on either side, and a barely visible boot lid spoiler.
BMW won’t reveal anything on the interior with the Shanghai Show concept’s windows being completely blacked out, but expect to see the typical M model styling traits such as the sport seats and steering wheel, bespoke interior trim and an M-specific instrument panel.
7 Comments:
so blah looking. m5 peaked with the e39...
I'm getting one in white as soon as it goes on sale...can't wait!!!!
Great car but, it's no Mercedes E63. I liked the previous M5 more; due to its more aggressive styling.
What are they doing, M5 used to look great, Waiting for the new RS6 after seeing that
The M5 is not intended to look like a flashy, look-at-me rice-mobile. Frankly, that's what the latest AMG/Audi RS models are starting to look like. The outgoing M5 looked a mess. This concept is what I'd expect an M model to look like - tastefully styled, with hints of the car's true potential as a sports sedan.
Very nice however I'm leaning more toward an Audi RS7 once revealed. Looking forward to driving both.
This thing eats AMGs and RSs for breakfast :D
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