BMW Australia have released pricing and specification details for the German marque’s new flagship performance car: the M5. The car was officially revealed in later August of 2017, and is scheduled to arrive on local shores in the second quarter of next year.
Upon that landfall, the price of ownership will start at $199,900 (before ORCs). Additional features and customisation options will potentially, either moderately to significantly, raise that base price. The F90 M5, which itself is based on the latest BMW 5 Series (G30), is the first to offer all-wheel drive.
Developed as a way to blend the grip, security, and performance benefits of having drive sent to all four wheels instead of just the pair of rears while maintaining a distinctly thrill of a rear-driven car, the M xDrive system operates with the front wheels decoupled under normal circumstances and the car only engaging them when it senses a need, sending power frontward.
The engine that’s responsible for the M5’s thrust should sound and behave quite familiarly as it’s indeed the same 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged S63 V8. However, the motor has been through quite the revision, resulting in an increased output of 441kW and 750Nm. That’s enough grunt to propel the nearly 2-tonne performance sedan to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds. Luckily, it now has two extra wheels to spread the bombardment.
While the car’s default top speed is restricted to 250km/h per the ‘gentleman’s agreement’ established between German automakers, it can max out at a delimited 305km/h should that restrictor be removed.
Also a important change from the older F10 BMW M5 is the car’s transmission. Where before BMW opted for a 7-speed dual clutch, the newer car instead uses a conventional automatic. It’s essentially the same ZF-8HP unit seen in action at the middle many BMW models these days, and most definitely an impressive transmission.
The one used in the M5, however, has had some software wizardry applied to make the changes more ferocious on certain occasions as well as being synchronised with the behaviour of the bi-turbo V8.
Elsewhere, the new M5 also benefits from its CLAR underpinnings that both increases structural rigidity while reducing weight. The standard CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced polymer) roof also helps with keeping mass down while lowering its centre of gravity.
The car also has a widened front track to improve stability, and while the front suspension remains broadly the same as the double wishbone setup used in the garden variety 5 Series, the rear five-link setup has been upgraded with stiffer mounts, wider anti-roll bars, and an elastometer to improve the connection between axle and chassis.
BMW Australia are also bringing in the exclusive M5 First Edition, which is limited to just 400 units globally. Going for $229,900 a pop, only 5 are currently confirmed to be allocated for our market, and all will be finished in the special Frozen Dark Red metallic exterior colour. In addition, it will receive special 20-inch Jet Black M light alloy wheels and other outside flourishes from the High Gloss Shadow Line.
Inside, the M5 First Edition features full Merino leather upholstery in Smoke White with red contrast stitching and interior trim finished in Piano Black accents, both from the BMW Individual catalogue.
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