Production BMW M5 spied

Text: Jack Rix / Photos: Automedia

09th May 2011

The BMW M5 is almost ready to be unleashed. These latest spy shots are the clearest yet of the full production car, with only light camouflage on the badges and lower bodywork.

Already revealed as a thinly-veiled concept car at the Shanghai Motor Show last month, we've already had the chance to put a prototype of the rear-wheel drive muscle car to the test. Read that story here.

Compare the car in action here with the Shanghai concept, and the differences are impossible to spot.

The lower front bumper has the same three gaping air intakes, to help cooling and create a more aggressive face, while the M5-branded vent has been added to the flanks.

At the back, quad exhaust pipes give the game away, while the pearlescent white paint job on this test car will be availble on the finished product.

Under the bonnet is a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, similar to the unit found in the X5M and X6M, but here it's tuned to 552bhp. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, although there are rumours circulating that an RS6-rivalling four-wheel drive version will be offered for the first time, too.

A raft of eco-inspired tweaks, including stop-start and regenrative braking, will help fuel economy climb as high as 25mpg - a 25 per cent improvment over the outgoing V10-powered model. But performance is just as strong with a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds and a limited 155mph top speed.

The full production model will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, while sales begin in November with prices starting from around £75,000.