BMW teases new M5

Official teaser video features new M5 saloon testing in Scandinavia ahead of its launch later this year.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Tom Phillips

04th March 2011

The M5 is coming! BMW has posted this official teaser video for the new M5 on its YouTube channel. The video features a lightly disguised prototype of the new super saloon, interspersed with comments from BMW’s M Division boss, Kay Segler.

Although the video doesn’t reveal much, Segler describes the new M5 as “a bold business car that at the push of a button turns into a sports car”.

The button in question is likely to be the steering-wheel-mounted M button, which activates the most aggressive settings for the engine’s power, the throttle response, steering, dampers and traction control.

Under the bonnet, the M5 is expected to get an uprated version of BMW’s new 4.4-litre V8, which features a pair of turbochargers which fit inside the engine block’s ‘V’.

The new unit replaces the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V10, and is cleaner yet features more power and torque, with around 570bhp expected when the car debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The transmission is as-yet unknown. BMW offered the current M5 with its SMG automated manual only, except in the US where the firm added a version of the previous generation car’s six-speed manual gearbox to the line-up as well.

A dual-clutch setup is likely, but BMW is known to consider this type of transmission as trendy, heavy and overly complex. An uprated version of the firm’s new eight-speed auto may get the nod instead.

The car is expected to go on sale in the UK by the end of 2011 as a saloon model only.

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3 Comments

Am I reading that right?

America got the manual and we didn't? Paradox much?

By tommy060289 on 5 March, 2011, 10:01am

Old news. saw this weeks ago. Come on BMW let the cat out of the Bag, whats it really like?.

By johnbmwx6 on 8 March, 2011, 9:25am

Great Ideas? Nonsense - when petrol hits over 50 Quid the litre and continues upwards!!

Its seems we - collectively - have not learnt from onetime auto giant General Motors terrible and disastrous planning mistakes. So many still building gas guzzlers en masse and hailing them as great advances and super designs!

All or most of the cars shown at Geneva are ecoligical and financial disasters! When petrol and diesel costs over 50 Quid a litre - and more going up to the 100 mark - these cars will be neither practical or easily affordable to operate.

And we are certainly heading into this fuel price bracket! The only open question is how quickly!

By vandenplas4litre on 10 March, 2011, 10:59am

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