BMW’s M5 ranks alongside the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG as the ‘must-have’ top-shelf European high-performance sedans. Good news has arrived in the form of the updated M5, due here in Australia in September and still priced at $229,900 but with the performance-enhancing ‘Competition Pack’ included as standard.
Delivering an extra 11kW of power the ‘Competition Pack’ lifts total output for the updated BMW M5’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 to 423kW. As a result, zero to 100km/h is now listed at 4.5 seconds.
Changes too for the chassis with revised springs and dampers (ride-height reduced by 10mm), stiffer anti-roll bars and modifications to the Active M differential and steering. So the already dynamic BMW M5 is now even better.
There’s also exclusive new 20-inch M alloy wheels and a black chrome finish for the twin exhaust tailpipes.
Up-front, there’s a new-design twin-slat version of the kidney grille and standard adaptive LED headlights. At the rear, the latest BMW M5 scores new-design tail-lights with thin LED light strips.
And there are some new paint colours – ‘Pyrite Brown’ metallic, ‘frozen Blue’ metallic and ‘Pure metal Silver’.
Inside, look for a new design for the M leather steering wheel, a new centre console with extra storage and some extra chrome highlights.
On the technology front, the latest BMW M5 adds a full-colour Head-Up Display with ‘M view’, surround-view and rear-view cameras, front and rear Park Distance Control a braking function for the cruise control, Land Change warning System and Driving Assistant which brings Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision and Pedestrian Warning and light city braking.
BMW has also added automatic soft-closing for the doors, automatic boot release via an ‘under-bumper’ soccer kick (as seen in the Ford Kuga Titanium), DAB+ for the radio and touch control for the Navigation System Controller which allows character input via its touch sensitive surface.
File this one under ‘M’ for ‘must-have’.
