BMW Redefines The M5

For those of you who were worried that high performance sports sedans were about to take a back seat to the electric revolution, the new BMW M5 should come as welcome relief.

The M5 looks to put high performance sedans back squarely where they belong with a twin-turbo M TwinPower 4.4-liter V8 pushing out 600hp. Normally, we associate M cars with being high performance rear-wheel drives, but the new M5 will debut the first ever M xDrive system that can go full two-wheel drive with the 8-speed M Steptronic transmission.

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The M xDrive is designed to only come on when the rear wheels can’t put any more power to the ground, and will engage the transfer case to power the front wheels to continue to drive the M5. It’s is based on the xDrive system we see in standard issue BMWs, however the programming is tuned towards a rear-wheel drive bias. The M xDrive is also able to be user configured to suit their needs, so if you’re looking to be a little more tail-happy the M5 will still be happy to oblige.

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Even more impressive is the engine technology. While it’s using a twin-turbo system, the M5 is able to generate 553lb-ft of torque from 1,800rpm all the way to 5,700rpm thanks to the use of twin-scroll turbos that boost up to 24.46psi (1.66bar). For further efficiency, the fuel system has increased pressures up to 5,076psi (350bar), over the 2,900psi (200bar) of a standard BMW V8. This decreases injector dwell time and further atomizes fuel, meaning the injectors are open for less time for the same amount of fuel and spray a finer mist of fuel into the combustion chamber. Furthermore, the oil pan sump is reduced in size while the oil pump is a variable unit with computer controlled mapping for precise oil control between weekend getaways to full-on track days and everything in between.

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The new BMW M5 will be available in the spring of 2018 with an option for the ‘First Edition,’ a special model of only 400 units worldwide. The M5 First Edition will feature Frozen Dark Red Metallic with Shadow Line trim and 20-inch, seven-double-spoke alloy wheels in black. Inside will be Piano Finish Black trim as well as a plaque with the car’s production number in the limited run series. The seating will be M multifunction seats that can come in Smoke White full leather with red contrast stitching.

There is a way you can get your hands on the car before then though, and that’s in the virtual Need for Speed world.

Continuing the tradition of BMW cars in NFS games, Need for Speed Payback (releasing November 10) will exclusively feature the new M5 as one of the pinnacle cars ahead of its real world release. “We at BMW M are really proud of this collaboration,” said Frank van Meel, President BMW M Division.

Click play above to watch the video.

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Since 1984, the M5 has been the “quintessential sports sedan” from BMW, and from where we’re sitting the latest iteration looks set to continue the tradition.

Justin Banner
Instagram: jb27tt
Facebook: racerbanner
Twitter: RacerBanner

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1

Weight? hope not near or more than 2 ton

2

The E39 was nearly 4000lbs. It's the essence of what this cars are: big, comfortable, technologically advanced. All of those things add considerable weight. What's neat about them is how well they drive and how fast they are while weighing 2 tons. If you want to drive a light-weight visceral BMW get an 2002 or E30.

3

I think the 550i is already around 4400lbs, so its probably around there if not more :/

4

Not stated in the press release, from what I saw, but it's pretty darn quick for whatever it ends up weighing. 0–to-60-MPH in 3.2-seconds; 0–to-124-MPH in 11.1-seconds; Top speed: 189-MPH on the M Driver’s Package.

5

Hopefully this thing doesn't chew through batteries like the previous model.

6

Just a 4 door R32 GT-R... :)

7
silly jdm fuckboi

how

8
Berto Aibeeya Sequoia

This method of AWD is similar to the R35 ATTESA E-TS AWD system

9

Almost. From what I know of the 2009 and up GTR ATTESA E-TS AWD, it still drives the front wheels by two-percent and the rear by 98-percent where, if the press release from BMW is accurate, will do 100-percent to the rear wheels until they start to slip and only then begin to add drive to the front wheels.

10
Александр Трофименков

remember when we were complaining when the f10 m5 went twin turbo? Yea, now we feel a relief because the new m5 isn't hybrid

11

this would've been so awesome if it had AWD, not that it isn't quick.
just makes me think it could be even quicker...

12

Next time you could try reading the article before commenting

13

maybe you should re-read the comment.
"The M xDrive is designed to only come on when the rear wheels can’t put any more power to the ground, and will engage the transfer case to power the front wheels to continue to drive the M5."
do you know the meaning of AWD?
ALL WHEEL DRIVE ALL THE TIME

14

Hey, ford capri, this is an automatic all-wheel-drive. Many SUVs, a few pedestrian cars, and a few sports cars work in a similar fashion. An automatic AWD will only drive a single axle until slip is detected and transfers power to the gripping axle. There was a big issue for the 1997 all the way to 2008 model year Fords with selectable 4WD/automatic AWD (Explorers seemed the worst only because they were the most prevalent) when I was working as a technician at a dealer in my late teens to early twenties. The issue was shuddering on acceleration and deceleration as well as binding on turns and always happened after a single tire was replaced. The issue was that the new tire had a larger circumference (and a longer distance to roll) than the original tires and the automatic AWD would begin to engage and disengage the front axle because it was "detecting" tire slip. The problem was one tire going far faster than anticipated by the drivetrain computer because of the circumference difference between the front, rear, left, or right pair of tires. It only needed to be 0.5-inch difference between a pair to cause the problem. It's why, if you're going to replace tires on the same axle on any type drivetrain, both tires on the axle should be from the same make and model brand. Despite saying they are the same size on the sidewalls, most tires are +/- 0.5-inch or more in circumference between manufacturers and sometimes even within manufacturers.

It's not just related to Fords as many automatic AWD systems will suffer a similar issue for the same reason.

15

Hi I work for BMW in Switzerland. With the DSC OFF button you can choose, if you want AWD, AWD Sport or 100% RWD. If you choose RWD, you will drive only on the rear wheels at all the time.

16

AWD refers to a vehicle capable of transferring torque to all of it's wheels. That's all.

17

Sounds heavy and expensive

18

Can you guys review the M760i? :D black black black with black piano gloss trim and fully loaded :D!

19
DolomitesAutomotive

If I had that money, I would take Alpina B5

20

I belt this is a belter...

but also like the last M5, why is it so uninspiring to look at? As far as i'm concerened this could be a 518i, a 530i, a 520d etc. in no way does it look like a performance car... I remember the last time I saw an F10 I literally almost missed the fact it was an M5 until I saw the badge out of the corner of my eye. I literally did not care to give it a second glance that's how boring it is - and they've made its sucessor worse!

Don't get me wrong, I love a "Q" car as much as anyone, but I can guarantee there is a huge customer base appalled at the fact they don't get to "show off" their wealth, or car enthusiasts who want to express their passions. Point is, why not at least give the customer the option to spec up the body kit? so godamn boring to look at...

21

Have you seen any of the M5s that aren't the V10 one? They literally ALL look like normal 5ers with a hint of performance, that was part of the appeal in the old days. The only one that even risks standing out (again, except the V10 car) is the E39, with its big lower intakes and quad exhaust. E34 M5s coud be any other 5er on that platform until you see the little splitter and the aero mirrors. E28s are almost invisible, just a little bit of aero work at the front and a barely noticable black plastic wing on the back

tl;dr you don't buy an M5 to get noticed unless you're an idiot, and most of the idiot-type M5 owners flocked to Audi long ago

22

I made a typo in there, also I forgot to add that a lot of the M5s from older gens that you may have seen are actually just tarted up base cars, and likewise there are more than a few M5s driving around posing as base models with base bodywork and no badges. Probably not many E28s, but E34s and especially E39s definite have this done enough for it to be a "thing"

23

I'm just saddened this is the first M5 since 1984 that doesn't have a manual option at all. Very much saddened. It would be great fun with a manual really,

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