Move over, traditionalists – BMW’s newest M5 is here to shock and awe, quite literally. This seventh-generation super sedan arrives with an electrifying twist that’s causing quite the stir in M-car circles. But before you clutch your pearls over its controversial hybrid powertrain, let me tell you why this might just be the most spectacular M5 yet.
Under the hood lurks a masterful combination of old and new school: a thunderous 4.4-litre twin-power turbo V8 paired with electric motivation, creating a frankly absurd 535 kW and 1,000 Nm of torque. Yes, it’s gained about 600kg of weight from its electrification, but BMW has performed some serious engineering wizardry to make this feel far lighter than its near three-ton curb weight suggests.
Its kerb-appeal is more than noteworthy, what you have is an ‘iconic glow’ grille so it lights up at night, and it’s far less ‘beaver teeth’ looking. There’s a new splitter, offering plenty of venting to get into its powerful engine. Laser lights to make night driving a breeze, and a wider front track for better handling and a more substantial poise.
My review model came in frozen deep gray and its matte looks outstanding, just a bugger to keep clean. And the new M5 rests on 20-inch front, 21-inch rear, alloys, with compound brakes, to ensure you stop and all-wheel steering for better maneuverability.
Carbon fibre mirror caps and a carbon fibre roof add to the appeal and M and 5 is embossed on the inner door frame and Hoffmeister kink. The rear hasn’t gone untouched either. The bootlid spoiler is again carbon fibre, there’s M5 badging, LED lights, a new shaped diffuser and 100mm quad exhaust tips.
What can I say about the driving experience? Absolutely biblical. Plant your right foot, and this luxo-missile catapults to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds. The instant electric torque fills any hint of turbo lag before the V8 takes over, creating a relentless wave of acceleration that would make Thor’s hammer feel inadequate. It’s so fast it’ll literally have you losing your lunch – and I mean that quite literally.
But here’s the clever bit: despite its substantial mass, this M5 handles corners with remarkable poise. The low-mounted battery weight, coupled with all-wheel steering and sticky rubber, means it clings to corners like a desperate politician to their seat. You can choose between all-wheel drive for sensible moments, or rear-wheel drive for when your inner hooligan demands attention .
The interior is a fascinating blend of traditional M car sportiness and future-forward tech. The ambient lighting scheme embraces BMW M’s heritage colors, though fair warning – the red seats might not be your best friend after a big night out. In EV mode (around 60km of EV-only range), BMW has even engineered a surprisingly authentic V8 idle sound that makes the electrical transition feel remarkably natural.
Being an M, there are track modes and track-only screens to geek out on, where you can virtually personalise everything, and although launch control does take a bit of discovering, the result is well worth it – so too is the use of the boost paddle when overtaking.
Most impressively, this M5 maintains the model’s legendary split personality. Switch it to comfort mode, and it transforms into a serene luxury cruiser, complete with impressive efficiency. The ride quality puts some luxury cars to shame, handling rough roads with considerably more grace than its more hardcore M siblings.
Is it perfect? Well, the steering feels somewhat removed compared to M5s of old, and yes, there’s no getting around the laws of physics when it comes to that weight. But as a technological tour de force that manages to preserve the M5’s essential character while embracing an electrified future, it’s nothing short of remarkable.