Following a thorough overhaul, the 4.4-litre V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology is now more potent than ever.
The highrevving power unit in the new BMW M5 delivers its exceptional output of 441 kW/600 hp at 5,600 – 6,700 rpm, while the tremendous peak torque of 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) is on tap from just 1,800 rpm and remains constant all the way up to 5,600 rpm. Compared to the outgoing model, maximum torque has been upped by 70 Nm (52 lb-ft).
The engine characteristics can be changed at the push of a button from the basic Efficient setting to either Sport or Sport Plus, resulting in even more willing response to movements of the accelerator.
The M engineers have implemented a raft of enhancements to endow the twin-turbo V8 with its phenomenal performance capabilities. These include newly developed turbochargers and a higher maximum injection pressure of 350 bar. This allows shorter injection times and improved atomisation of the fuel for sharper engine response as well as more efficient mixture preparation.
Improvements have also been made to the lubrication and cooling systems, including an oil pan with a small front sump and indirect charge air cooling, which is more effective than the predecessor’s equivalents despite taking up less space. The oil supply system uses a fully variable, map-controlled pump and has been designed for outings on the race track, where it can handle very high levels of longitudinal and lateral acceleration.
Modifications have likewise been made to the cross-bank exhaust manifolds for the new BMW M5. This has the effect of optimising the transmission of energy from the exhaust gas flows to the turbine wheels of the two turbochargers and ensuring the best possible gas-exchange cycle.
By fitting a Helmholtz resonator between the two silencers of the dual-branch exhaust system, the M engineers have succeeded in reducing its weight. The sound from the flap-controlled exhaust system varies depending on the selected mode for the engine characteristics, while the M Sound Control button also allows drivers of the new BMW M5 to soften its acoustic presence.
The twin-turbo V8’s power is channelled to the road via the newly developed M xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
The wonderfully nimble rear-biased set-up is achieved by the M xDrive system only bringing the front wheels into play when the rear wheels aren’t able to transmit any more power to the road and additional tractive force is required.
Even when it is being driven in a particularly sporty manner and unleashing high levels of power, the new BMW M5 with M xDrive behaves predictably and can be controlled with ease by the driver, paving the way for an even more intense experience of the business sedan’s phenomenal performance.
More ambitious drivers can configure M xDrive at any time to suit their needs. Even in the default setting with both DSC and 4WD activated, the new BMW M5 allows a certain amount of slip at the rear wheels when accelerating out of corners to produce the agility for which M models are renowned. But the M5 also remains perfectly controllable at all times.
The all-wheel drive’s superior traction helps to produce acceleration times that are simply phenomenal by sports sedan standards and would be worthy of a supersports car: 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a breathtaking 3.4 seconds and 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in just 11.1 seconds