RE: New M5 Gets Show Debut In Shanghai

[Russell B]

In my eyes theres never been a bad M5 and I dont think there ever will be. They just change as they evolve and Im sure in 12 months we will all have a wet one over this just like we did when we learned to love th E60.

Sadly legislation makes them heavier and forces us farther into the middle but the power should compensate

[Grovsie26]

No doubt it will be over complicated and heavy and now it's not N/A really don't see it as a decent driving machine.

[RichB]

I see it was another lazy day in the BMW design studio.

[SE24]

Shame it's uglier than a hat full of a**holes...

[Pesty]

fatboy b said:

Does nothing for me at all - and that goes for all current BMW styling.

Funny how these things works isnt it.

every time I see a Z4 I think its teh best looking car on the road. I like BMs' but always could take or leave them.
The new z4 is absolutely fantastic and the new 5 series is almost as nice, a very handsome car.
this M5 will look great pitty it does not have the v10 in it though.

[RichB]

Pesty said:

...every time I see a Z4 I think its the best looking car on the road...

Really? You're easily satisfied aren't you. BMW Z4 or... let me see; Aston Martin DB9, Alfa Romeo Competitzione 8C, Maserati Gran Turismo... Humm no I'll take the BMW Z4

[RaTpoLO]

and, what about the classics like the 250 GTO and GT40 etc.

[Kong]

neil_bmw said:

Kong said:

I think this goes to show the German power war is over.

1998 - M5 400bhp
2000 - E55 AMG 470bhp
2002 - RS6 440bhp
2005 - M5 500bhp
2007 - RS6 570bhp
2009 - E63 AMG 525bhp
2011 - M5 552bhp

For the first time BMW and Merc have both released their fastest executive saloon with LESS power than the existing Audi.

And the corresponding torque figures and power to weight figures are?

An improvement over the previous models i would think..

I said the German 'power' war seems to be over. Not the lb/ft per ton war

[wiffmaster]

Love it - sufficiently aggressive yet subtle at the same time. Shame about those wheels though - never understood the whole 'black alloy' thing as it just makes it look as if you're running on steelies. I'll take mine in Monte Carlo blue with some gunmetal grey alloys, please.

[Pesty]

RichB said:

Pesty said:

...every time I see a Z4 I think its the best looking car on the road...

Really? You're easily satisfied aren't you. BMW Z4 or... let me see; Aston Martin DB9, Alfa Romeo Competitzione 8C, Maserati Gran Turismo... Humm no I'll take the BMW Z4

Yes very funny. Ok yes there are some very expensive exotics that I think are better looking. However the BMW punches well above its weight and Yes I think it is right up there with them.

Its a damn sexy car IMO. Your are of course entitled to dissagree which is cool. I might get one cheaper if nobody agrees with me

Edited by Pesty on Tuesday 19th April 22:18

[jbi]

Matt UK said:

That is a big old beast. I'm sure it will handle but I can't help wonder if this car is bigger than the 7 was of 10 years ago (I can't be bothered to wiki right now)

E38 7 series (1994–2001)

Length - 5,123 mm (201.7 in)
Width - 1,862 mm (73.3 in)

F10/F11 5 Series (2011-)

Length - 4,899 mm (192.9 in
Width - 1,860 mm (73.2 in)

9 Inches Shorter

[Pesty]

What about weight?

[jbi]

E38 7 series (1994–2001)

Weight - 1710−2185 kg

F10/F11 5 Series (2011-)

Weight - 1625-1830 kg

[Twincharged]

gforceg said:

"...despite the new car being larger.." you say? Whatever next?

Wouldn't a four wheel drive version just be pitching them down into Audi country?

There's a lot of demand for 4wd cars in the American market, and a lot of people in the UK worry about having 4wd because we've started to get some snow each year. I wonder at what point this will turn into a significant loss of sales; I have spoken to people saying they specifically want a car with 4wd because of the snow.

kambites said:

Stop-start systems have quite a lot of input parameters which they use to decide whether to shut the engine down. I suspect the majority of cars with stop-start systems are turbocharged, so it's hardly a new problem to overcome.

I've never understood the dislike of stop-start systems. They have pretty much no draw-backs, in my experience.

Agreed- having driven some BMW cars with the system I'm impressed with the ones they offer- they seem to be very quick to re-start and take account of all of the conditions at the time. They're unintrusive and save fuel- what's not to like?

I suppose on BMWs they can even prevent heat-soak, as they've cut the engine so no additional heat is being added, and they can keep the fans/water pump running as necessary as they're elecrically driven.

Zod said:

I don't know. They said when I was there a couple of weeks ago that the figure was remaining secret at Shanghai. The strong hint was that it would be more than the X5/6 M figure.

The reports I'd heard had quited the M engineers as saying "Do you really think we'd give it less power than the X5M?" which hinted to me that it would be the same power output or more, rather then definitely more. Have you heard more?

[Zod]

Twincharged said:

The reports I'd heard had quited the M engineers as saying "Do you really think we'd give it less power than the X5M?" which hinted to me that it would be the same power output or more, rather then definitely more. Have you heard more?

The hint was that the work they'd done on it produced worthwhile improvements. Responsiveness was the major focus, but power was hinted at too.

[Witchfinder]

It's a big, fat V8 in a BMW saloon car! What's not to like? OK, it's not a frantic V10, and the looks still haven't grown on me, but I'd have one if someone gave it to me

[Dagnut]

Pesty said:

What about weight?

For a car to only gain 30-40kg in 12 years is actually pretty impressive, considering the increase in size, equipment and safety.
The E39 was 1820kg.

[Trommel]

I'd like it more if it didn't look like Hamann had already started on it.

[red_slr]

Kong said:

I think this goes to show the German power war is over.

...

For the first time BMW and Merc have both released their fastest executive saloon with LESS power than the existing Audi.

Quite. I think Evo et al commented that the 570bhp RS6 was probably the highest output 4 car we will see in some time. Looks like they were right. Even Porsche can "only" manage 550bhp in the Pana Turbo S. (all £130k of it!)

[kambites]

red_slr said:

Quite. I think Evo et al commented that the 570bhp RS6 was probably the highest output 4 car we will see in some time. Looks like they were right. Even Porsche can "only" manage 550bhp in the Pana Turbo S. (all £130k of it!)

I'm sure people like Brabus will keep producing obscenely powerful cars, but from the mainstream manufacturers, you may be right.