RE: New M5 Gets Show Debut In Shanghai

RE: New M5 Gets Show Debut In Shanghai

Tuesday 19th April 2011

New M5 Gets Show Debut In Shanghai

It's called a concept, but this is near-as-dammit BMW's new M super-saloon



BMW has finally given its fifth-generation M5 its first public unveiling at the Shanghai motor show.

Although still officially a concept, what you see here is effectively the production version of the new M car, even though that won't make a public appearance until the Frankfurt motor show in September.

Sadly, the high-revving naturally aspirated V10 has gone, replaced by a twin-turbo, 4.4-litre V8 (as seen in the X5 M and X6 M.

The new M5 makes 552bhp and 510lb ft from its 4395cc turbocharged V8. That's 52bhp up and 126lb ft better than the old V10, which should be some compensation for fans of natural aspiration. The 'S63' motor has also undergone some tweakery to its induction and exhausts for more top-end power and a sharper response than the X5 M and X6 M provide.


Power is driven to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, although word is that an all-wheel-drive version is currently being mulled-over by BMW.

The new M5 should, says BMW, improve fuel economy by 25 per cent over the previous model, thanks in large part to regenerative braking tech and a stop-start function, while the use of carbon fibre and aluminium should help to keep the weight of the new F10 model roughly on a par with the old E60 version, despite the new car being larger

Visually, the M5 is as subtle as you'd expect (wheels notwithstanding), although the mildly pumped wheel arches are actually a departure for M cars, which don't usually feature reprofiled bodywork. At the rear are a small lip spoiler and an underbody diffuser, both of which help to increase downforce at speed.



 

Author
Discussion

Sivraj

Original Poster:

256 posts

190 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
The new 5 hasnt settled with me yet but I do love M5's and turbo's!!!

Douglas Arfempty

623 posts

185 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
sleep

Can't deny the engineering.....but it's so so boring to look at.

goron59

397 posts

170 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
Yawn. I'm sure it's a lovely motor, but this is a concept, so couldn't they even try to make it interesting?


louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
The engine was given the code "S63"? Are they trying to wind up Mercedes???

smile

gforceg

3,524 posts

178 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
"...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?


Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
I do like that, I mean I really like that.

If the grey was ever so darker and all the chrome (window trim, grille etc) was smoked or gloss black, that would be my perfect four door supercar-slayer bounce

fatboy b

9,492 posts

215 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
Does nothing for me at all - and that goes for all current BMW styling.

Altrezia

8,517 posts

210 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
I love it smile

Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
gforceg said:
..

Wouldn't a four wheel drive version just be pitching them down into Audi country?
sort of, but the BMW will have passion.

Big E 118

2,408 posts

168 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
"although the mildly pumped wheel arches are actually a departure for M cars, which don't usually feature reprofiled bodywork"

Really?

sootyrumble

295 posts

185 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
I still think that the V8 M5 was the best of them all, it was the most understated lightest and smallest (Apart from the first M5), to my mind the perfect combination of luxury, power, control and stealth

neil_bolton

17,113 posts

263 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
Big E 118 said:
"although the mildly pumped wheel arches are actually a departure for M cars, which don't usually feature reprofiled bodywork"

Really?
I believe that the E46 M3 did, but the E39 M5 only required rolling of the arches, the E36 M3 did not, and if I'm correct, neither did the M6. Not sure about the latest M3.

PhilLL

1,123 posts

199 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
neil_bolton said:
I believe that the E46 M3 did, but the E39 M5 only required rolling of the arches, the E36 M3 did not, and if I'm correct, neither did the M6. Not sure about the latest M3.
The 1M is pretty 'pumped' as well!

Baked_bean

1,905 posts

191 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
neil_bolton said:
I believe that the E46 M3 did, but the E39 M5 only required rolling of the arches, the E36 M3 did not, and if I'm correct, neither did the M6. Not sure about the latest M3.
The E30 m3 had re-profiled arches as well (yum, box arches).


I do like the look of this M5, always been a big M5 fan. E39 or maybe the one before it (E34?)


Oddball RS

1,757 posts

217 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
"At the rear are a small lip spoiler and an underbody diffuser, both of which help to increase downforce at speed."


They mean reduce lift surely?


Kong

1,503 posts

170 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
article said:
the mildly pumped wheel arches are actually a departure for M5 cars, which don't usually feature reprofiled bodywork.
EFA

Kong

1,503 posts

170 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
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.


g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
Love it.

Styling is spot on, really like the subtle arches. Overall looks better than the E60.

Wonder how this will sound compared to the E39.

[/BMW fanboi]

Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
"and aluminium should help to keep the weight of the new F10 model roughly on a par with the old E60 version, despite the new car being larger"

The E60 is 6 inches wider, and 2 incher longer than the E28. How much more girth will the new one add?

And just as well roads in blighty are being widened rolleyes 0h wait a minute, this M5 is probably targeted at the people who can afford to run them i.e the Arabs, the Chinese

george h

14,706 posts

163 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
If they took off those horrible wheels it would look alright. That said I thought the old M5 was ugly when it first came out, but has grown on me since.