The all-new BMW M5 will get a heavily reworked 4.4-liter V8 engine that develops 608ps, making it the most powerful 5 yet.
Thanks to tuning and various engineering enhancements, the new M5 will take just 3.4 seconds to reach 100km/h and hit an electronically capped top speed of 250km/h. The German manufacturer also claims a maximum torque of 750Nm from just 1,800rpm through to 5,600rpm can be achieved 70Nm more than the previous incarnation.
Fitted with an all-new AWD system and a newly developed 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, the motor enables fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of 10.50l/100km and 241g/km respectively.
Innovation on the 4.4-liter unit from the engineers at BMW M means that there is now a higher injection pressure of 350 bar, and this, teamed with newly developed turbochargers, reduces injection times, making for better fuel atomization. All this means the powertrain is faster and more efficient.
The lubrication system has also been upgraded, with the oil pan now having a front silencer. And thanks to engineering first used in track racing, a variable pump now operates the fuel supply, cutting out the risk of oil starvation when performing high-g acceleration.
In addition to this, the cooling system has undergone work; the indirect charge air cooler is now more powerful than its predecessor while managing to be smaller.
To ensure the best possible gas exchange cycle, BMW has modified the exhaust manifolds to optimize energy flow between the exhaust gas and the turbine wheels of the two twin-scroll turbochargers.
The M xDrive AWD system makes sure all that power can be transmitted to the road. The intelligent central M-specific dynamics control system (DCS) monitors grip on the rear wheels, and at the limit of adhesion, brings the front wheels into play.
This is thanks to a number of component upgrades, the drivetrain is now stronger and stiffer, the new transfer case can control torque distribution between axles, and a split differential distributes drive between the rear wheels.
The DCS controls all of this and will only intervene when necessary in extreme situations, meaning that when you put your foot down you should feel every one of the 608ps.
The M5 Timeline
The BMW M5, launched in 1984, is the modest looking sedan that has supreme performance capabilities. The latest model fully embraces this approach and takes it even further. Here’s the lowdown on previous M5 goodness.
1984: BMW M5 E28S
Powered by a 286ps 24-valve six-cylinder 3.5-liter engine, the first generation could reach 100km/h in just 6.5 seconds.
1988: BMW M5 E34S / E34 / 5S
For the first time, the M5 could reach 250km/h thanks to a 3.6-liter engine that produced 315ps.
1998: BMW M5 E39S
The third generation might have looked discreet, but packed a 5.0-liter 32 valve V8 engine, which could produce 400ps and 500Nm of torque.
2005: BMW M5 E60/61
A sedan that could hit 304km/h. A 5.0-liter V10 engine hid in the engine bay. This unit could unleash 507ps at 7,750rpm.
2010: BMW M5 F10M
The first generation to have the current 4.4-liter V8 biturbo. The 2010 M5 had 560ps, double that of the original back in 1984.
2017: BMW M5 F90
The newest edition to the line-up, and the most powerful yet. The beefed up biturbo V8 offers 608ps and a limited top speed of 250km/h.
By Sam Petters