ALL-NEW BMW M5 FINALLY COMES ALIVE

The longest wait is finally over. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the all-new BMW M5, a car that is based on the current 5 Series (codename F10). Subject to much speculation, guessing, spy work, teasers, concepts and now finally the real thing, the M5 is an icon of its time. It’s the executive sedan that created its segment, the super saloon segment, back in 1984. And now we have all the details you’ve been waiting for.

Let’s get the power details out of the way first. The engine is the same 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 block used in several other BMW models. Except it has been tweaked of course. Unfortunately our guesses of up to 430kW were left extremely cold when BMW said it makes 412kW at 6000rpm, and peak torque of 680Nm from a seriously early 1500rpm. Acceleration from 0 – 100km/h is said to be 4.4 seconds, 0 – 200km/h in 13 seconds, and top velocity is limited to 250km/h. An M Driver’s Package can be ordered that boosts that figure to 305km/h to make this the fastest M5 of all time.

Incredibly BMW claims an average fuel consumption of 9.9 litres per 100km for this new M5, which is about the same as I achieved in 2001 while driving the old Z3 3.0-litre manual. The new 7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission (M-DCT) gearbox sends power to the 19-inch standard rear wheels, and can be actuated via paddles behind the steering wheel. Of course an M Differential has been fitted. Best of all it has Launch Control which hopefully limits wheel slip and catapults the thing towards driving awesomeness just over the ridge.

The new M5 is very tastefully decorated, following BMW’s age-old “form over function” philosophy, meaning that anything that does not need to be there, is not included. Every part that is there appears for a specific reason. You’ll notice the four tailpipes which signify that this is an M car, the M gills on the sides, blue M brake calipers, wide air intakes on the front bumper and a rear air diffuser to help keep the car steady on the road.

Inside several clues are a giveaway as to its intentions, least of all the M badges on the sills and the steering wheel and the Drivelogic shift programme. There are plenty of current technologies as well, including lane departure warning systems, Night Vision with pedestrian recognition, Surround View and others.

The all-new BMW M5 will appear at the 2011 Johannesburg International Motor Show (JIMS 2011) following the Frankfurt Show, and then after go on sale at your nearest dealership, from Sandton to Durban central, all the way past Port Elizabeth and into Cape Town.