The BMW ‘Concept’ M5 debuted this weekend at the Shanghai Auto Expo, while the actual production version, which we assure you will be almost exactly the same, will debut at Frankfurt later this year.
Quite why the M5 gets so much attention is beyond us, but it somehow always ends up being the benchmark for shit-yourself-fast saloon cars. The Mercedes E63 AMG is a great car, no doubt, and the Audi RS6 BiTurbo V10 is like something created by the dark arts, but in the domain of lilly German sedans, no one quite does it like BMW.
Since the Sharknose, the M5 has seemed to define sports-saloon, if such a concept isn’t bunk in itself. The last incarnation featured a frankly bonkers V10, which will certainly be missed, but the new twinturbo V8 is nothing to raise your nose at. This does mean however that the latest M5 will be the first forced-induction M5 in BMW’s history.
BMW claims it is 25% more fuel efficient, while producing more power and more torque. 431kW to be almost precise, up from 408kW. Some overseas magazines are citing “sources” saying that the 0-100km/h time is down to 4.5 seconds, but for all we know they might as well be citing “sauces”.
Judging by our drive in the 530d late last year, the M5 should be fantastically good. With an exceptional interior, a tight chassis and M-tuned suspension in the mix, they’d have to actually try and get it wrong.
Full gallery after the jump… (more…)
