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.
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