This Is The Massively Fast New BMW M5

BMW has finally dropped the curtain and given us a full, untainted view of the fairly magnificent new M5, in all its twin-turbo V8 glory.

The new flagship super-saloon, which you might remember has been given switchable four-wheel drive, uses a development of the old M5’s engine, with new, larger turbos, indirect charge air cooling and increased fuel injection pressure. Power is now a faintly silly 592bhp at 5600-6700rpm, and torque has been inflated to a rather merry 553lb ft all the way from 1800-5600rpm.

So, it’s not exactly tardy when it comes to performance. We’re talking 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds, 0-124mph in 11.1 seconds; just 1.5 seconds slower than the 599bhp Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Edition. The 0-62mph sprint here is exactly as quick as that of the Mercedes-AMG E63. Brace for about a million YouTube drag races. Top speed is either 155mph or the optional 189mph, depending on which limiter takes your fancy.

The four-wheel drive system can reduce its demand on the front tyres in four stages, giving more and more rearward bias until it starts to go sideways as easily as the average crab. Choosing one of the M xDrive modes lets you drift without overcooking it or looking the fool when leaving car meets.

Naturally it’s auto-only with paddle-fired sequential semi-manual shifts if you prefer. The driving modes span Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus, tweaking the M-tuned variable suspension and the steering weight. The driver can also set a pair of memorised settings combinations that suit them, which is nice. A ‘mother in law’ mode and a ‘Sunday sprint’ option, maybe…?

It’s a good looker, anyway. The bonnet bulge and the flared, muscular arches blend with up to 20-inch wheels, light-alloy wheels and standard carbon-ceramic brakes. The latter shaves a hefty 23kg off the old setup’s unsprung weight. We can’t wait to see it in action.