The current BMW M5 is by far the most powerful car BMW has ever made. In direct competition with the E63s from Mercedes-Benz and the RS6 from Audi, the BMW M5 has set a new standard as to what a sports sedan should be.
Available in three distinct variants, the M5, M5 Competition, and M5 CS deliver insane amounts of power in a comfortable car you won’t mind driving every day. The M5 lets you add extras to your car with a wide range that includes carbon-fiber bucket seats, customizable M-Sport buttons on the steering wheel, and even metal paddle shifters. This puts the M5 completely in a class of its own. To show you just how far ahead of the competition the M5 is, here are 10 things you need to know about the current BMW M5:
10 0-60 In 3 Seconds
The twin-turbo V8 has the ability to power the M5 from 0-60 in just over 3 seconds. This gets even more impressive with the Competition and CS models at around 2.6 seconds. These 0-60 times make the M5 range some of the fastest sedans in the world.
The M5’s 0-60 time of 2.6 seconds beats some of the industry’s leading sedans, such as the Mercedes-Benz E63s at 2.8 seconds and the Audi RS6 at 3.1 seconds. This shows the accelerating power of the M5 and how effortless overtaking will be.
9 Carbon Fiber Sport Seats
If you are looking for a sporty track car or a comfortable family sedan, the BMW M5 can do it all. The M5 can be optioned with plush leather seats or sporty, carbon-fiber bucket seats.
The M5 is also designed with a carbon fiber hood and carbon-reinforced plastic to further reduce its weight. The modern 2021 M5 managed to lose over 150 lbs from the last model due to this new kind of material.
8 Carbon Reinforced Plastic To Reduce Weight
The new BMW M5 makes use of Carbon Reinforced Plastic for a number of body parts and internal components. This leverages the strength of carbon-fiber materials to create more sturdy and rigid plastic components.
The M5 makes use of this technology for its diffuser, spoiler, side skirts, and bumpers. While reinforced plastic is effective, BMW does let you option fully carbon fiber parts as an extra for the M5.
7 Carbon Fiber Everywhere
The M5 comes with carbon fiber components throughout the cabin and exterior of the car. This adds rigidity to the vehicle while also cutting down its weight for impressive performance gains.
BMW also lets you option more carbon fiber throughout the car as well. This includes a carbon exterior pack to replace the diffuser, spoiler, and other components around the car with carbon fiber alternatives. This makes the M5 look and feel sportier and more like a supercar than a traditional sports car.
6 Signature Yellow Laserlights
The BMW M5 sets itself apart from the industry with its signature yellow front headlights. This resembles the traditional halogen bulbs while providing you with all the benefits of modern LEDs.
While LED headlights are not uncommon in the automotive industry, they are usually white. This makes the BMW M5 stand out while also paying homage to classic M5s of the past.
5 Powered By A Twin-Turbo V8
The entire BMW M5 range is powered by BMW’s twin-turbo V8 powertrain. This impressive piece of engineering is by far the most powerful engine BMW has ever produced and is based on previous technology built for the X6M.
The standard V8 engine produces over 617 HP and 553 lb-ft of torque, taking the throne from the X6M and being the most powerful BMW engine on the market today. The M5 Competition and CS models don’t differ greatly from the primary engine, but rather come with additional software and drive modes to deliver greater performance.
4 Custom M Sport Drive Modes
The BMW M5 comes with a dynamic range of drive modes for every occasion. This includes all the basics while also providing you with the ability to customize your own. The M5 has an Eco, Sport, and Sport Plus mode to let you take full advantage of the V8 powertrain.
The unique option that many people may not know you can add to your M5 is the fixed M1 and M2 drive mode buttons on the steering wheel. These red buttons let you customize drive modes and allocate the steering wheel buttons to them, so you can access them without having to take your hand off the wheel.
3 X-Drive
The entire BMW M5 range comes standard with BMW’s xDrive system. This is BMW’s All-wheel-drive system that is designed to compete directly with Audi’s Quattro system. xDrive provides ample amounts of grip on launch and increased performance both on the road and on the track.
This may come as a surprise to many, as BMW is known for its rear-wheel-powered sports cars. However, BMW makes use of its dynamic driver modes to let you have as much fun as you would have in their traditional rear-wheel-drive sports cars.
2 M5 Competition
BMW offers a wide range of M5s that include the standard M5, the M5 CS, and the M5 Competition. The Competition model comes with added performance and styling options to be the ultimate sports sedan.
While the M5 CS does come with BMW’s xDrive system, it does give you the option to send power solely to the rear wheels. In addition to this, the Competition model comes with model-specific badges, seatbelts, floor mats, and a TFT screen in the gauge cluster.
1 Practicality For Daily Use
The BMW M5 range provides unparalleled performance in a car that is still practical enough to use every day. When compared to competitors such as the Audi RS5, the BMW has more storage space in the trunk and more legroom for rear passengers.
In terms of fuel consumption, the M5 gives you 15 miles to the gallon in the city and up to 21 miles on the highway. Although these are not the most impressive numbers on the market, for a sports sedan in this segment, it is practical enough to be a daily driver.