New BMW M5 Revealed!

All-paw monster breaks cover

After months of speculation, prototype previews and spy pictures, BMW’s prolific M Division has finally unveiled the new M5

Now the sixth generation of the breed, new M5 brings with it a rather contentious feature that has never been seen on any previous model baring the super saloon’s badge; all four wheels are driven.

That’s right, the new M5 is 4WD, or as BMW are calling it ‘M xDrive’, and while that may not seem like the worst thing in the world, it has some enthusiasts up in arms.

However, fans of driving their M5 round a corner sideways needn’t fear, as it turns out the M xDrive system has adopted the same philosophy as its main competitor, the Mercedes-AMG E63, and the front axle’s drive can be totally deactivated for when the urge to purge the rear tyres beckon.

“The core component of M xDrive is a central intelligence unit with M-specific software delivering integrated control of longitudinal and lateral dynamics. The new drivetrain technology – making its debut on the new BMW M5 – therefore combines all of the agility and precision of standard rear-wheel drive with the supreme poise and traction of the all-wheel-drive system,” says BMW M GmbH Chairman of the Board of Management, Frank van Meel.

“As a result, the new BMW M5 can be piloted with the familiar blend of sportiness and unerring accuracy on both the race track and the open road – and in various weather conditions, too.”

Power comes from a heavily reworked version of the previous generation M5’s ‘S63’ 4.4lt twin-turbo V8, and when we say reworked, we mean it, as the powerplant now has new turbochargers, a higher injection pressure, more powerful cooling and lubrication systems and a modified, lighter exhaust system. As a result of these upgrades, power now sits at a whopping 441kW (600hp) and a gargantuan 750Nm.

The other big news is that the new M5 has dumped BMW M’s ‘M-DCT’ double-clutch gearbox in favour of a more conventional, eight-speed torque converter automatic BMW has coined ‘M Steptronic’.

The bottom line of all these new changes and features is a 1930kg, four-door sedan that will complete the naught to 100km/h sprint in a scarcely believable 3.4 seconds, and if you keep the loud pedal buried and tick the box for the optional M Drivers Package, the M5 will keep on going to a top speed of 305km/h.

There’s no official word as to how much the new M5 will cost when it reaches our shores or when it will arrive down under, but we’ll keep you posted and hopefully, when it gets here, we can tell you how it drives.