Unboxing: BMW M5 Concept
Say hello to the new BMW M5. Well, kind of. This is the BMW M5 ‘Concept’, a car that is very much straddling the concept/production line. Having had its covers ripped off in Munich this weekend to a group of journos, this is almost certainly what the new F10 M5 will look like.
The new super-saloon is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine from the X5M and X6M. It is the first time turbos have been slotted into an M5 but is said to offer the same great performance of previous V10s and a ‘high-revving experience’.
Power is said to be somewhere around the 560bhp mark with 530 lb-ft of torque but nothing has been confirmed. With the new double blower engine emissions are said to be down by 25% with the help of this forced induction and a start-stop system.
Power is still sent to the rear but this time through a seven-speed M double-clutch transmission and an Active M Differential. Depending on your environment (or how crazy you want to get) you can choose from four driving modes; Comfort, Sport, Sport-Plus and the whole sha-bang M Driving mode.
Visually, you can put a large wager on that the actual M5 will look almost identical to this. Compared to the normal F10 there are revised front fascia houses and three enlarged black mesh-covered intakes to feed the turbocharged eight-cylinder and supply the front brakes with cool air.
Standard BMW M styling swelling has occurred around the arches which leads to the aerodynamic rear apron equipped with an integrated diffuser with those infamous quad pipes chucking out the bad stuff out the back. The only thing visually which is likely to change is the wheel colour, but if you are a fan of black I am sure there will be a box to tick on the spec sheet.
You can check out the fifth-generation of BMWs M5 in this ‘Concept’ guise at the Shanghai Auto Show in two weeks. When the real deal goes on sale this autumn be prepared to see a price tag of around £65,000.
Words: Rowan Horncastle
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