5 things you need to know about the new BMW M5
It’s still a driver’s car
Although there’s no manual transmission, the new M5 isn’t just an all-wheel drive trick pony and it can be driven with 100 per cent of the power delivered to the rear differential – just like every M5 before it.
With DSC (dynamic stability control) deactivated, three drive modes provide different levels of front-rear power bias in conjunction with differing levels of tailored stability control: all-wheel drive, all-wheel drive sport and rear-wheel drive.
All-wheel drive mode provides the highest traction level for rapid acceleration and cornering without slip; all-wheel drive sport is configured for a more lively and entertaining drive with reduced traction control; and, rear-wheel drive mode completely decouples power from the front and provides 100 per cent of power to the rear-differential.
The electronically controlled Active M rear-differential has also been beefed up with carbon fibre clutch plates and can be either completely open or completely locked, depending on conditions.
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700Nm is weak compared to the Merc E63’s 850Nm from a smaller capacity V8. I thought it was going to be 750Nm, but still well down on the Merc.
It’s an impressive engine in the Mercedes. The M5 will be a fair bit lighter though (in the region of 150-200kg) and the new turbo design might bring more torque lower in the rev range. It’ll be a good battle no doubt. – Alex
If the new M5 is 100kg lighter than the old then it should be ~ 150kg lighter than the E63, but 1700kg would be impressive for such a loaded beast as the M5. I can’t beleive it would be even lighter in the 1650kg range, but that would be epically good. Buy a second hand one in 5 years when it down to about $70K
Yes, 150kg difference to the Merc. If BMW managed to put in an AWD system and drop 150kg from the previous M5, that would be very impressive. – Alex