BMW has officially unveiled the new M5, and fans won’t have to wait too long to get it.
Now in its seventh generation, the legendary badge will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England this July, after which it will go on sale in all markets around the world, including South Africa, in the fourth quarter of 2024.
There are significant changes to the performance car this time around, as the M5 is getting an all-new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.
Ahead of the curve
The latest model to come from BMW’s coveted M performance division, the M5 is now powered by an M Hybrid drivetrain which combines a 4.4-litre, V8, twin-turbo petrol engine with a high-output electric motor.
By itself, the combustion engine produces a total of 430kW and 750Nm, while the e-motor contributes an additional 145kW and 280Nm.
Furthermore, the e-motor has a pre-gearing stage that can effectively increase the torque produced up to a total of 450Nm.
When these two systems are combined, the result is an explosive output of 535kW and 1,000Nm – significantly more than the 466kW and 750Nm found in the previous generation.
This is transferred to the track via an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission, which connects to the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system with an electronic rear differential.
When all is said and done, the M5 can rocket from 0 to 100km/h in a blistering 3.5 seconds and cap out at an electronically limited 250km/h.
However, there’s good news for South African customers, as our market will receive the M Driver’s package as standard, which raises the limit to 305km/h.
Underscoring the audio experience is a sports exhaust with continuously adjustable flaps and dual tailpipes finished in black chrome.
The acoustics are not lost in all-electric mode as BMW has fitted the IconicSounds Electric system that provides authentic responses to throttle inputs.
When no petrol is involved, the high-performance sedan can still hit speeds up to 140km/h thanks to a high-voltage battery located in the underbody with a usable capacity of 18.6kWh.
This is enough to afford an electric driving range of 69km, and the module can be topped up using an AC cable at a rate of 7.4kWh.
Also included as standard is adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers and Integral Active Steering, which can turn the rear wheels by up to 1.5 degrees for more steadiness at high speeds and better agility at low speeds.
There is also a near-actuator wheel slip limiter to improve traction and stability, and owners can switch from all four wheels to a rear-wheel-drive setup, which disables the dynamic stability control (DSC) for a more intense track session.
By default, the M-badged car is fitted with light-alloy wheels measuring 20 inches at the front and 21 inches at the rear, as well as high-performance tyres and a set of M Compound brakes, though these can be swapped out for M Carbon ceramic brakes.
As for the rest of the package, the equipment sheet for each market is still to be confirmed, but the Munich-based carmaker promises a much wider selection of standard and optional kit, including new assistance functions.
Standard items now comprise front-collision warning, lane-departure warning with steering assist, evasion assist, driver attention monitoring, speed limit recognition, and parking assist with a reverse camera.
Optional extras then consist of active cruise control with Stop & Go, lane-control assist, traffic light detection, automatic speed limit assist, onboard navigation, and the Parking Assistant Professional package controlled by a smartphone that can park the car by itself at ranges of up to 200m.
Looking inside, the flat-bottomed M leather steering wheel features paddle shifters and two M buttons that can be used to store customized vehicle setups for things like the suspension, regenerative brakes, and powertrain settings.
Pushing the DSC button will activate M Dynamic Mode, which raises the DSC intervention thresholds with regard to braking intensity and engine output.
Owners can also cycle between driving modes for Road (default), Sport, and Track, and the M5 comes with an M Professional lap timer and a Boost Control function which maximizes the powertrain’s potential during overtakes.
Other driving modes include a Hybrid setting for controlling the interplay between the combustion engine and e-motor for better efficiency, and the Electric mode, where the combustion engine will only kick if the paddles are used.
An M Drive Professional package adds Dynamic and Dynamic Plus settings, which control the engine and cooling systems to provide short bursts of the car’s maximum output.
The dashboard has a curved dual-display running BMW’s Operating System 8.5 which can be controlled via touch or voice commands, and is complemented by a heads-up display with track information.
The four-zone climate and seat heating controls are now digital, and the seats are wrapped in Merino leather.
Additionally, there are plenty of ambient lighting strips around the passenger cell, a panoramic sunroof, a Bowers & Wilkins surround sound stereo, a wireless charger, and an automatic tailgate.
Rounding out the paid-for extras list is an Alcantara headliner, a heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, and an M Performance package that replaces the finish on select exterior components with carbon fibre-reinforced plastics.
BMW M5
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