BMW’s M division has already been caught by our spy photographers while doing testing of their seriously fast M5 sedan at Germany’s legendary Nurburgring, and now we caught the super saloon testing in the winter landscapes of Sweden. While other photos have shown this prototype with fabric covering the front end, that camouflage is not present in our photos.
Up front, an M-style front fascia with larger, more aggressive intakes will be present, along with “M” fender vents. In back, we can see the traditional quad exhaust setup that graces M models. Massive brakes with cross-drilled rotors and sportier wheels and tires can also be seen.
While the outgoing M5 is powered by a 5.0-liter 500 horsepower V10, this latest M5 is confirmed to be packing the twin-turbo, direct injected 4.4-liter V8 from the X5 and X6 M models. BMW, like all automakers, is feeling the pinch from new emissions and fuel efficiency standards and is turning to forced induction and smaller engines for improved efficiency to go along with its high-performance products.
Despite moving down in displacement, advanced technology and twin-turbochargers have this prototype M5s producing at least 555 horsepower – and fuel consumption is down compared to the V10, which was rated at 17 mpg highway. The M5 will remain a rear-wheel drive sedan, looking to agility, power and advanced traction control to provide performance – not all-wheel drive.
The next M5 should surface at a major auto show sometime during 2010, but the high-powered sedan might not hit dealer showrooms until 2011.
03/04, 6:13 PM
posted by:
Genesis101
Im sorry BMW…..I still like the old one better
03/04, 6:17 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Call me old fashion but if I’m spending near 6 figures for a performance sedan, I’d rather have the fuel hog V-10 for bragging rights alone. Lookswise this one looks better. I think it’s more suave like the 1995-2003 model than the past gen’s aggressive look.
03/04, 6:22 PM
posted by:
cocksterS
I much prefer the new headlight treatment. And who said the horsepower wars were over?! 5.5L twin turbo AMGs and 4.4L twin turbo Ms, all pushing upwards of 550hp. Awesome.
03/04, 6:24 PM
posted by:
cocksterS
JakeK66: if you want bragging rights, you need an AMG 65. Nothing beats a Twin Turbo V12 in that department…except maybe a quad turbo W16, but that’s a different ballgame altogether.
03/04, 6:28 PM
posted by:
A4
Yeah, but if you want an AMG 65 you’re going to be spending upwards of $150,000. Not $90,000.
03/04, 6:57 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
that’s not old fashioned, jake, at least in terms of m5 heritage…in the 80s the m5 sported a 6-cylinder, and adopted a v8 about 10 years ago…wanna hear something cool?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LftgDQHIg6k
forward to 2:20 in this vid and listen until the end…not a bad sound for “just” a v8, eh?
03/04, 7:00 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
btw, i’m still concerned the new 5-series needs to go on a diet…upping power is nice, but what if performance stays put because it’s a pig (by bmw standards)…
03/04, 7:02 PM
posted by:
85ZingoGTR
Why so secretive? We already know how the new 5-series looks. Just take off the wraps already.
03/04, 10:06 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Thank you 85Zingo. Obviously the same level of common sense prevails in the car biz as on these forums.
03/04, 11:18 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
if you had those stickers at your disposal, you wouldn’t use them? i’d put them on everything…
03/04, 11:25 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
… you mean like hot sauce?
03/05, 3:35 AM
posted by:
Troll Killer
I expect a lot from the next gen M5, but I know M knows what they’re doing so I’ll wait until it comes out.
03/05, 3:07 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
hmm…that’s a tough call…to be consistent with my previous statement, yes, i would camo a bottle of hot sauce, if given the opportunity…
03/06, 1:09 PM
posted by:
adrian8806
Just a matter of opinion I guess, that said, this new body style dominates over the last one. It’s aggressive and yet elegant and modest in a way.
I obsessed over the last model when it came out, but it grew outdated very quickly. Seems to me this one will age very well.
I think all the camo is BMWs way of replacing Warhol cars.