BMW reveals new hybrid-powered M5
This enormously powerful machine promises to unite traditional petrolheads with progressive fans of electrification.
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The king of the autobahn has gone green … but not too green.
Engineers responsible for the new BMW M5 have responded to the pressure to make cars more efficient by fitting a battery pack, electric motor and charging port to the German muscle car.
But it also has a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 to please fans of traditional power.
There’s a lot going on under the new M5’s bonnet.
The Le Mans-proven petrol V8 is good for 430kW and 750Nm, which is a touch less than the previous-generation car’s 441kW and 750Nm.
But the addition of an electric motor inside the eight-speed automatic transmission sends an extra 145kW and 280Nm to the tyres, or what BMW describes as a combined 535kW and 1000Nm.
Those are big numbers.
And they’ll get bigger, if history is any indication. We reckon a BMW M5 Competition will be available in the near future, perhaps with the same 550kW and 1000Nm power figures as the range-topping BMW XM Label Red.
In any case, BMW reckons the M5 will hit 100km/h in 3.5 seconds, before reaching a top speed limited to 305km//h.
Owners can also run the car in stealth mode, relying on the plug-in hybrid’s 18.6kWh battery for more than 60 kilometres of electric range at speeds up to 140km/h.
Like most plug-in hybrids, it has a relatively fanciful claimed fuel economy number – BMW claims the car used just 1.7L/100km of petrol during the official test cycle.
As with many high-end performance cars, the M5 is available with carbon ceramic brakes as an optional extra.
Digital gadgets include launch control, a drift mode, track-specific settings and clever hybrid modes.
Hardware includes 20-inch (front) and 21-inch (rear) wheels, a variable all-wheel-drive system, active rear limited slip differential, and supercar-like wishbone front suspension.
As in the new M3, the car has broad scope for electronic customisation with variable settings for the engine, suspension, exhaust, steering, brakes and more.
The interior features a flat-bottomed steering wheel with buttons that allow owners to quickly access their preferred combination of driver settings.
BMW Australia says it will publish pricing for the new beast in July before it arrives in November this year.
Originally published as BMW reveals new hybrid-powered M5
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