When we gave you details on BMW’s new M5 due here next summer (Cover, April 26), we had to read between the lines to get the full picture. Now BMW has released the first official photos and more details.

At the new M5’s heart is a purpose-built 5.0-liter V10 delivering 507 hp. With individual throttle butterflies, BMW’s bi-Vanos variable valve timing, dual-flow stainless steel exhaust system and a stratospheric 8250-rpm redline, the BMW delivers its 507 hp at 7750 rpm and 383 lb-ft 6100 rpm. This is up 107 hp and 15 lb-ft on the outgoing model’s 4.9-liter V8 engine, making the new M5 is the most powerful road-going BMW ever.

The engine is mated to a third-generation version of BMW’s sequential manual gearbox (SMG), now boasting seven forward ratios and new electronics to speed shift times 20 percent. With 11 different shift programs, six in manual mode and five in automatic, the driver can tailor the gearbox’s action to suit the conditions. There’s even a launch control function.

Another new feature is the M5’s power button. At start up, the driver is given access to 400 hp in a default program, dubbed P400. Depressing the button unleashes P500 and the engine’s full 507 hp wallop along with a more responsive throttle. In P500 BMW says the new car will hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and its 155 mph top speed in 14.9 sec. With its speed-limiting chip removed, BMW says its new sedan will reach 205 mph, although company policy prohibits official modification, even at the dealer level.

Underpinning the new M5 is a modified version of the 5-series’ MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension. While the geometry and pick-up points are the same, the ride height has been reduced and more negative camber added to handle cornering forces BMW claims can top 1.3 g.

The new car also adopts electronic damping control (EDC), providing the driver with three stiffness levels: comfort, normal and sport. The EDC is linked to the M5’s power steering system, which provides the driver two assistance levels.

There’s also two-stage dynamic stability control (DSC); the first stage with grip levels corresponding to a standard 5-series, the second stage, dubbed M Dynamic, allowing what BMW describes as “greater levels of slip.” Helping to rein the new M5 in are impressive looking 14.75-inch (front) and 14.5-inch (rear) ventilated and cross-drilled steel discs with twin-piston aluminum calipers. BMW says 62 to 0 mph takes less than 118 ft and 124 to 0 mph less than 460 ft.
BMW claims the new M5 can lap the Nürburgring, where much of its development was done, in 8 minutes, 25 seconds less than the outgoing M5

Source: http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=02986726


ps: I'm not(or related to) Kain, Jdubs87,e.t.c. I just think this is an amazing car even though I'm not a big fan of the exterior and interior.

 

It may handle well, but as predicted and according to the article 0-60mph is 4.7 secs. for the M5.

E55's acceleration time:

 

I dunno why but those pics really look photo-chopped...or is it jus me?

 

15sec from 0-200 km/h.

is the E55 not around 13sec?

 

Not to put anyone down but I will wait and see the true times of the new M5. People always underestimate 0-60 numbers and such. I will wait to reach my verdict. I remember when they totally underestimated the S4. When it came out, it ended up being about half a second faster. So I will wait to past judgement. One thing I'm sure we can all agree on is that it's still a FUGLY *** car.

 

In P500 BMW says the new car will hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and -- its 155 mph top speed in 14.9 sec -- WTF?

 

And I noted there are no front fog lights? And the oval interior mirror from spy photos are missing?

 

This interior reminds me of a Toyota... not sure which model, though.

 

just plain ugly

 

If the interior looks Toyota-like, what about the rear end? It looks like an '84 Celica.

 

The first two pics look photoshopped, not sure bout the others though. I actually like it... it looks mean

 

#s mean nothing until we see a real world,side by side test of the M5 vs E55.
Until then ,its a pure speculation and guessing game.

 

This is the first BMW fully controlled by iDrive. Notice they have completely eliminated the accelerator and brake pedals?

 

Woah, that's interesting. Thanks for pointing that out. I guess we can now conclude the M5 won't even be able to move.

Just kiddin'.

 

Well compared to the W211*E55 we already knew that

 

I think the Prius is nicer inside. I'm glad I didn't wait for the new M5. The E55 remains the Beast.

 

I think it will be a great car my $0.01.

 

You must really hate Toyotas to compare this interior with theirs.

 

Nope. If you look at performance figures from people who actually PURCHASED the car, not have the car supplied to them from MB, most of them are in the realm of 16 seconds. Rennteam's SL55 AMG did it in 16.1 seconds. The E55 is at most, 0.5 seconds faster than the SL55 up to 124MPH. 15 seconds to 200km/h is VERY VERY fast... Porsche 911 Turbo/Gallardo fast, plus I reckon that's a prudent figure.

Can you say ROCKET!

 

From the looks of it the new M5 and current E55 will have more or less identical acceleration, maybe with a slight edge for the BMW if you run them from 0-155 mph. I think the new M5 is a great car technically, but I do not like the looks, especially not of the interior, or the I-Drive system and I am surprised they do not offer it with a manual! If I could pick, I would still go with the more comfortable muscle-sedan E55 or the E63/E65 (whatever it will be) when it comes out.

 

The E55 takes around 14 sec standard. I persoanlly think performance of the cars will be very similar. The big difference is the ease with which the E55 can be enhanced.

 

the E55 was testet in the german magazin "Sport Auto" and it made the following numbers:


Mercedes E55 AMG - 2003 (Series)
Test in sport auto 01/2003
Gewicht 1944 kg
0 - 80 km/h 3,3 s
0 - 100 km/h 4,6 s
0 - 120 km/h 5,9 s
0 - 130 km/h - s
0 - 140 km/h 7,6 s
0 - 160 km/h 9,8 s
0 - 180 km/h 12,2 s
0 - 200 km/h 14,6 s

i dont see any chance for the M5 to drive away an E55. but both cars are very fast. performance is very close to each other.

 

As a fellow aussie you may be aware of a local motoring magazine test where the e55 trap speed for 1/4mi was 182km/h in 12.9 sec if you do a bit of non-linear extrapolation and consider another gear change at 192km/h you'll get about 15.5-16 sec for 200km/h. Bear in mind that this is one test sample only and by no means the best times achievable. I don't think that the ease of which the e55 can be modified is important but the ease of which the performance can be accessed consistantly is a big advantage over the fast shifting high revving M5.

Cheers

 

I'm pretty diggity darn sure that E55 was provided by MB to Sport Auto. Frankly, I don't really trust MB's press cars. 0-300 in 32.5 by AMS? 0-60 in 3.6 by C&D? Not trying to brew up an argument here, just saying I'd very much trust numbers from board memebrs and website tests (e.g. RS6 or Rennteam) than most magazines these days.

 

i like the exterior and the interior .. but what i so intresting is the bhp/weight
it has 288 BHP/TONNE... thats a very impressive number compared to other cars such as

New M5 -> 288 BHP/Tonne
Old M5 -> 227BHP/Tonne

A comparision:

911 Turbo -> 267 BHP/Tonne
360 Modena F1 -> 276 BHP/Tonne
Aston Vanquish -> 258 BHP/Tonne

anyone knows what the E55 bhp/weight?