The sporting saloon par excellence is back, and here is the new BMW M5 with 727 CV of power

Just over a year ago, the German brand presented the eighth generation of the BMW 5 Series, a range that has gradually added members, as we saw early this year with the arrival of the Touring estate body. Now another important member of the range joins it, with a spectacular 40-year history and entering its seventh generation to begin a new era: the BMW M5.

Aesthetically, the new 5 Series does not particularly stand out for being eye-catching, but the BMW M division transforms it enough for the M5 to look far more striking, as demonstrated by the new front bumper, which incorporates huge side air intakes, although perhaps the central intake makes a bigger impression with gloss black trim. Obviously, the sense of width compared with the 5 Series is much greater on the M5, further accentuated by the widened wheel arches.

In the side view we see how the brand has fitted more prominent side skirts marked in line with both bumpers. These serve to accentuate even more the ridge along the lower part of the doors, which begins behind the front wheel arch and gradually rises towards the middle of the rear wheel arch, serving as a connecting link with the rear bumper, also widened and with shapes that, in my opinion, don’t quite win me over… Too many angles in my view, and even more so with the rear diffuser, which tries to create the impression of being in two pieces, housing the twin exhaust outlets at its two ends.

What lies under the bonnet will be more controversial and, for me, already marks a before and after, and in fact it is so for the BMW itself, so much so that this seventh generation of the BMW M5 would no longer have a place in my garage. Firstly because regulations no longer help these engines sound as they really should, and secondly because in the new M5 the sound will also be artificial, yes, that’s right, artificial thanks to the BMW IconicSounds Electric system that accompanies the electric motor when it delivers power… Did I write electric motor? Yes, the new BMW M5 will be a plug-in hybrid.

If we open its bonnet we will find a hybrid system consisting of the 4,400 cc V8 engine from the BMW with TwinPower Turbo technology, which delivers 587 CV of power and 750 Nm of torque, accompanied by an electric motor of 197 CV and 280 Nm of torque, although a pre-gear stage allows the effective torque at the transmission input to be increased to 450 Nm. The combination of both allows a power output of 727 CV and a maximum combined torque of 1,000 Nm, and let me tell you, despite these figures the new BMW M5 still fails to stir a single ounce of emotion in me. Luckily we still have the M2.

The power generated is managed through the eight-speed M Steptronic automatic gearbox and transmitted to the road via the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which is configured to give particular preference to the rear axle in 4WD Sport mode. If we want a more classic and pure driving experience, we can select 2WD mode so that drive goes exclusively to the rear axle. With the assistance systems activated and the M xDrive system, the BMW M5 can reach 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and attain a limited top speed of 250 km/h, extendable to 305 km/h if we choose the optional M Driver’s Package.

We must not forget what I mentioned a few lines above: that the new BMW M5 is a plug-in hybrid. This means it is fitted with a battery, specifically a lithium-ion one located in the underbody with a capacity of 18.6 kWh, which gives it a maximum range of 69 kilometres in fully electric mode without exceeding 140 km/h. The best part is that you will have an BMW M5 with an ECO label, which gives easy access to the city centre, while your neighbour in the village with a 1999 SEAT Arosa, which consumes and emits less CO2 than a lighter, will have to scrap it. Furthermore, in your M5 you can feel eco-friendly knowing that with a fully charged battery it has a homologated combined consumption of 1.7 l/100 km, but beware: if you drive it discharged, consumption rises to 10.3 l/100 km. And you can still enter the city centre thanks to your ECO label!

Also… do you know how satisfying it must be to take the new BMW M5 through a roundabout in an eco-sustainable way? Don’t worry, because BMW makes it easy by carrying out a series of specific adjustments to the chassis design, changes that, according to the brand itself, will allow us to easily recognise the agility and precision traits of its M models. I suppose the added weight of the battery and the hybrid system itself will hardly be noticed… In any case, so much power needs to be controlled safely, so for this there is also a stiffer specific suspension and M Compound brakes as standard, which can optionally be replaced with carbon-ceramic ones.

Otherwise, as far as the technology inside is concerned, it will be what we already knew with the arrival of the new 5 Series, in terms of both assistance and driving aids, all enhanced by a cabin with a greater dose of sportiness thanks to the M sport steering wheel with a flattened lower section, the sports seats, the carbon fibre inserts, and the specific functions found in its infotainment system.

To find out the prices the new BMW M5 will have in our country we will have to wait a little longer. The brand has confirmed that it will reach European markets next November, together with the M5 Touring.