Tuesday 14th September 2010

Next M5 Put Through Its Paces

Near-inevitable Nurburgring spy vid of new M5 surfaces

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Here's proof that the Next M5 - caught here squealing and growling its way around the Nurburgring in a video posted to the webosphere by BMW blog site bimmerpost - hasn't lost any of its attacking edge.

No, it doesn't have the naturally aspirated V10 and yes, it does have a pair of not-popular-with-M-car-die-hards turbos, but on the basis of this evidence the 4.4-litre twin-turbo M5 is going to be quite a car.

This montage video of an M5 development hack, mostly taken around the Kleine Karussell corner on the Nordschleife, certainly seems to show that the new M5 (due in 2011) is going to be every bit as interesting as its predecessor. The twin-turbos don't even seem to subdue the burbly V8's voice. Lovely.

 

 

[Gizmo!]

Don't know why they bothered putting the body decoration on it. We all know what a 5-series looks like!

I'm not a fan of the turbos either, but having driven a current model (TwinPower) 335i, you can hardly feel the boost kick in these days, so I fully expect the new ubersaloon to be monstrously good, as usual

[edo]

Surely easier for them to keep the body panels as per a standard 5 for testing to save the camo?

[Rollcage]

Would that be on a closed circuit? Cant imagine the circuit would be open for TF with fog like that?

[jake15919]

Nearly 30 years of production (in various guises) and never a bad one. If it cost three times as much, and had an English or Italian badge, no one would complain.

[edo]

I assume it will be DCT gearbox only? Be nice if there was a manual offering.

[Guvernator]

It looks very big and cumbersome. Why do manufacturers feel the need to increase the size on every new model? The E39 was the perfecrt size for a mid level saloon, why change a winning formula? Is it because people are getting fatter?

[Mr Whippy]

Looks a bit fat now.

E60 just got away with it with the sharp styling, but the softer edges and the bulk makes this look a bit turd imo.

I'd much rather have a proper auto and the big NA 6.2 V8 Merc AMG kit, than a DSG box mixed with soft turbo power...


This M5 just seems a mish-mash of philosophies. What is it meant to be?

Dave

[daveco]

A bloated, uninteresting slab of a modern car.

At the relatively young age of 27 I've lost all interest in modern cars. They're too heavy, too big, too complicated, too boring.

[Bashkim]

BMW are making the biggest mistake of their life by throwin in a v8 instead of the old v10, the reason why people bought a m5 was cos of that beautiful v10.
Ok we all know that a turbo engine is much more easier to tune but common man who cares about fuel economy the only difference ur gonna get is 20-50 miles per tank difference
Long live the v10

[nonuts]

I'll wait and see what's said when it comes out, currently I agree with the chap that said there's not been a bad M5 yet.

[nonuts]

Bashkim said:

Long live the v10

I think you have the EU laws and climate tossers to thank for that issue, not BMW.

[Great Pretender]

I think I 'get' this car now.

It's BMW's 911 Turbo with four seats*.















*proper ones, for the benefit of the pedants amongst us.

[130R]

Mr Whippy said:

I'd much rather have a proper auto and the big NA 6.2 V8 Merc AMG kit, than a DSG box mixed with soft turbo power...

That's ok if you just want a fast cruiser but I'll bet this next M5 will be a better drivers car and faster around a track than all the AMG Mercs (SLS and maybe a couple of the black series excluded)

[IanO]

Well I love it. The M5 is supposed to be subtle which I think the new design does well and the sound of that delicious V8, even on tinny laptop speakers is promising.

[pilchardthecat]

Great Pretender said:

I think I 'get' this car now.

It's BMW's 911 Turbo with four seats*.

The current M3 saloon replaces the E39 M5.

This thing is the successor to the M7 that never was. The M6 is the 911T

[tonym911]

Saw a silver new-shape yesterday, actually looks really good IMO.

[Great Pretender]

pilchardthecat said:

Great Pretender said:

I think I 'get' this car now.

It's BMW's 911 Turbo with four seats*.

The current M3 saloon replaces the E39 M5.

This thing is the successor to the M7 that never was. The M6 is the 911T

Nope.

The M3 is nothing like the E39 M5 and you'd be mad to suggest the current E63 M6 is similar to the 997T.

Because it's now turbo'd, the new M5 will have the sort of interstellar grunt that you only get with the twice-blown hog. Therefore the delivery will be very similar.

Actually, now I think about it, the F10 is more closely linked to the Panamera, but that car is hideously ugly, I'd rather not consider it.

[Zod]

I will mourn the V10, but its consumption and emissions meant it had to go. I jut hope they've found a way to make the engine feel sharper and more aggressive than the X6 M and X5 M engine of which it is a derivative.

[Dr S]

What are these silly flashing break lights? OMG more bullsh*t in the so called name of safety...

[theaxe]

Bashkim said:

BMW are making the biggest mistake of their life by throwin in a v8 instead of the old v10, the reason why people bought a m5 was cos of that beautiful v10.

Personally the v10 put me off the E60, I'd prefer a V8.