The all-new sixth-generation 2018 BMW M5 has been revealed with the four-door supercar boasting 441kW, 750Nm and xDrive all-wheel drive…
THE SIXTH-GENERATION 2018 BMW M5 has been revealed overnight with the four-door supercar boasting “the most advanced version” of the brand’s twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 which will hurl the thing to 100km/h in just 3.4 seconds. The engine is mated to a new eight-speed automatic and xDrive all-wheel drive and makes 70Nm more torque than the old car, with 750Nm on tap from 1800rpm through to 5600rpm. Fuel consumption is a claimed 10.5L/100km.
Indeed, BMW says, “the upshot of all this is that the new BMW M5 is not just the fastest of all the M5 models built since 1984, but the most nimble too”.
Frank van Meel, Chairman of the Board of Management at BMW M GmbH, explains the benefits of the pioneering drivetrain technology aboard the new BMW M5: “Thanks to M xDrive, the new BMW M5 can be piloted with the familiar blend of sportiness and unerring accuracy both on the race track and out on the open road, while also delighting drivers with its significantly enhanced directional stability and controllability right up to the limits of performance when driving in adverse conditions such as in the wet or snow.”
The M5 defaults to all-wheel drive with its stability control fully on, but depending on the driving mode selected the driver can loosen the grip and tweak the M5’s handling characteristic, even placing it into rear-wheel drive mode only.
The new M5 was honed at both BMW M’s own test track at Miramas in France as well as on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It offers a huge amount of driver adjustability from its all-wheel drive through to 2WD, varying stages of stability control along with three modes for the dynamic damper control: Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus which soften or harden the damper response to suit the driver and where the vehicle is being driven.
The M5 gets M compound brakes as standard but can be cost-optioned with carbon-ceramic brakes. These are instantly recognisable from the gold-coloured callipers with M logo (six- piston fixed callipers at front, single-piston floating callipers at rear) and are 23kg lighter.
Weight reduction was key in developing the new M5, BMW says, and so there’s been a greater use of lightweight materials like aluminium for the bonnet, and carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic for the roof. And form follows function with the design, the hexagonal front grille not only gives the thing a menacing snout but also incorporates the oil cooler.
On the inside, there’s room for four people (boot space measure 530 litres) with the steering wheel offering quick access into the guts of the M5’s handling characteristics; the two red-painted M1 and M2 buttons next to the gearshift paddles on the M multifunction steering wheel allow the driver to configure two individual set-ups for the M5. These include their choice of M xDrive, DSC, engine, transmission, damper and steering characteristics, as well as the appearance of M view in the Head-Up Display.
To keep the new M5 on-pace with driver assistance, it features the current crop of systems from the new 5 Series line-up.
BMW will also produce 400 First Edition M5s, it hasn’t been announced how many Australia has secured but given the status of Australia in M sales performance, it’s likely BMW Australia will have secured a couple of cars at least. BMW says, the First Edition has exclusive Frozen Dark Red Metallic paintwork and includes BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line trim with extended features. This means that the kidney grille, the M gills and the four tailpipes of the sports exhaust all come in high-gloss black. The M5 First Edition is fitted as standard with 20-inch seven-double-spoke light- alloy wheels in black.
Local pricing and final specification hasn’t been announced yet.
You’ll struggle to get that fuel economy whilst the engine is turned on. That’s a downhill with tail wind figure loping along in top gear. In the city expect 50% more and expect 20’s when punting it hard. The only thing more fake than the Trump presidency is a European fuel figure.
What’s the weight, last gen fat pig needs to shed 200kg, but now with awd, will be lucky to be much lighter at all.