Monday 4th April 2011

BMW M5 'Concept' Leaked Ahead Of Shanghai Debut

Undisguised images of new BMW M5 hit the web for the first time

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This is the new BMW M5 'concept'. It's been leaked into the webosphere by (we think) Russian website transmissia.net ahead of its official debut at the Shanghai motor show in a couple of weeks time.

Of course, in recent years BMW concepts have been pretty much the production car with a different set of wheels, so what you're looking at here is almost certainly pretty much the same as the finished article, which is due to go on sale towards the end of the year.

Official details of what lies beneath the moderately subtle bodywork are of course pretty sketchy, but we do know that the twin-turbo V8 will make more than the 547bhp it does in the X6M, a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox (rumours of an auto-only spec have proven mercifully wide of the mark) and all the usual switchable electronic settings we've come to expect of a high-end M car.

 

[bonechuka]

v8 twin turbo, wish I could have a go in that

[dele]

Hmmmm...


Not sure about this one, id like to see better pictures but at the moment it doesnt look special enough to be the next M5, looks more like an M-Sport with quad exhausts

[BUG4LIFE]

M cars never really blow my mind, visually. Though I guess they do look how they should, quite understated but still muscular. The final version will get different wing-mirrors though yeah?

[pilchardthecat]

I really like the look of that. Best looking BMW since the original Z4 in my eyes.

Huge want.

[JumpinJack]

I'm not blown away, but I still like it.

[Stew2000]

Send it back. it looks like an M3.
Why even bother with a 5-series anymore.

[hornetrider]

Having seen a few on the roads the new 5 series is starting to grow on me.

Edit: And more than 550bhp??? Jeeesus.

[Mr Gearchange]

Wholly unremarkable - and not in a good, Q-car type of way.

More in a meh, how uninspiring way - and what a horrible nose the new 5'er has.

[epom]

me too, the m sports are starting to really grow on me... and this will be the king of them !! thumbs up here

[Norbury90]

Looks a bit blocky at the back for my liking. Still these cars seem to grow on me a lot.

[RJDM3]

Over all very nice, but the designers should be shot for that front end.

[Atrophy]

Norbury90 said:

Looks a bit blocky at the back for my liking. Still these cars seem to grow on me a lot.

Yes the rear end is disgusting. I am now ripping out my eyes. Don't mind the rest of it!

[renrut]

Well so much for the M cars being NA. Probably couldn't keep the power race going with VAG and MB if they did. Be interesting to see what the journos make of its power delivery once its finished.

[Zod]

What a surprise. Somebody broke the embargo!

I was there on Friday. I will keep my photos until the embargo ends, but I can tell you that it looks great in the metal. It looks more planted than the E60, less upright. For those saying it doesn't look different enough, that's always been the point of the M5. Just look at the four predecessors, each of which was on display on Friday. Like the E60 Concept, this one isn't quite final. Expect it to get its own mirrors, rather than the standard ones on display here.

[RudeDog]

These cars are so dull to look at

[BigI]

I find the front to awkward to look at, I think the previous 5 was a nice car in terms of styling.

[Zod]

renrut said:

Well so much for the M cars being NA. Probably couldn't keep the power race going with VAG and MB if they did. Be interesting to see what the journos make of its power delivery once its finished.

They are not in a power race. This car is likely to have less power than the competition.

[leon9191]

Looks gorgeous I think, shame its going to weigh 2 tonnes though it will need +550bhp if its going to really shift!

And I dont know why but I like the fact its a v8 more than the old v10.

[honest_delboy]

Looks nice, tuners will have 600BHP+ out of it within weeks. Then some clever chap will stick bigger turbos etc and get how much? North of 700BHP Maybe?

[kambites]

Zod said:

They are not in a power race. This car is likely to have less power than the competition.

Not much less if it's going to have over 550bhp.

It looks alright. Not as challenging as the last one, but not as offensive either. I suppose which is better comes down to whether you think ugly is better than bland. I think I preferred the old one. I'm surprised it's doing quite so badly on the PH-o'meter, though.