BMW teases with M5 again
BY DAVID HASSALL | 7th Mar 2011
The winter testing video reveals little about the forthcoming M5, which is expected to debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September before going on sale in Europe soon after, with Australian deliveries expected from early 2012.
The video was posted on BMW’s YouTube channel and features an M5 still wearing camouflage.
BMW M division chief Kay Segler describes the new M5 as “a bold business car that at the push of a button turns into a sports car” – seemingly referring to the inevitable drive control system that would alter engine, transmission, steering and suspension characteristics.
Dr Segler last year revealed the main mechanical deviation of the new-generation M5 when he confirmed that the now out of production M60’s F1-style high-revving 5.0-litre V10 engine will be replaced by the company’s brutish 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8.
In the video, Dr Segler described the new M5 – which is based on the F10 model launched in Australia in June last year – as “a business sedan and an automobile with the emotional density and driving experience of a supersports car”.
“Many of our customers are highly successful business people who wish to sense the same intensity in their automobile as they do in their lives generally – every second they spend at the wheel,” he said.
“With the same dedication which is so often the secret of our customers’ success, our engineers have created an incomparable car.” Dr Segler then invited M enthusiasts to register at www.m-power.com for exclusive information and the opportunity to take part in the last set-up test drives and exclusive launch events for the new M5.
“With the BMW M5 our aim is to make automobile dreams come true – and that means your dreams,” he said.
“Many of those waiting impatiently for the new BMW M5 know what I’m talking about. Send us the dreams you personally associate with the new BMW M5 (and) we will send out invitations to some of those who send in their ideas within the Online Closed Room of M-Power.com.” The new twin-turbo 4.4-litre direct-injection V8 as fitted to BMW’s M-badged X5 and X6 SUVs delivers an incredible 408kW of power and 680Nm of torque – well up on the 373kW and 520Nm of the outgoing V10, which can rev well past 8000rpm.
It will mark a return to V8 power for the M5, which in E39 series guise up to 2003 was powered by a naturally aspirated 4.9-litre bent-eight that developed 294kW and 500Nm.
The long-running E39 was the most successful M5 model in terms of sales until it was eclipsed by the E60, which attracted no fewer than 20,548 buyers between 2005 and 2010.
Dr Kay Segler has said that direct-injection twin-turbo technology could reduce the M5’s fuel consumption by 25 per cent.
European aftermarket outfit Alpina, which has long ties to BMW, has already produced a twin-turbo model based on the new 5 Series, dubbed the B5 Biturbo, which has different inlet and exhaust systems to the M version, resulting in slightly less power (373kW) but more torque (700Nm).
Although the Alpina B5 Biturbo drives through a ZF-built eight-speed automatic transmission, reports out of Europe suggest the M5 will get a more efficient dual-clutch transmission as well as a stop-start function to further improve fuel economy and CO2 emissions.
