THE legendary BMW M5 sedan has undergone an overhaul and is set to land in Australia in its Competition form in October, with the 2021 edition offering insane performance from its 460kW/750Nm 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 power plant.
Debuted across the globe earlier today, the new look M5 Competition packs a punch with a top speed of 305km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 3.3 seconds, with a re-tuned chassis ensuring an even sharper driving experience than ever before.
The new look M5 has escaped the huge kidney grille styling of its 4 Series compatriot, and features a modernised styling package that includes changes to the front, side and rear exterior elements of the car.
As with the new BMW 5 Series, the M5’s front design is characterised by an updated kidney grille that drops down further into the front apron.
A one-piece high-gloss black surround design frames both elements of the grille, while M-specific double bars in combination with an M badge provide unmistakable hints of the vehicle’s pedigree, status and capability.
The front apron has bolder contouring and larger air intakes to deliver an aggressive look while adding cooling performance. The expansive central air intake has a hexagonal shape and incorporates the oil cooler and radar sensor for the active cruise control.
The new L-shaped light tubes add a dynamic flourish to the newly designed headlights. BMW Individual Shadow Line lights, a new addition, provide a dark-tinted accent to the BMW Laserlight system.
The aluminium bonnet, front side panels with signature M gills, streamlined M exterior mirrors and a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof join the BMW kidney grille’s double bars as hallmark design features.
The thinner walls of the M-specific twin tailpipes also create a greater sense of high-tech precision. The muscular rear apron with large diffuser has been restyled, as have the three-dimensional LED rear lights, which features a fresh take on the BMW L shape.
Additional black styling details underline the elite status of the M5 Competition. The BMW kidney grille surround, mesh on the M gills, exterior mirror caps and the boot lid spoiler all have a high-gloss black finish. Black inserts are also integrated in the rear apron.
Black M5 Competition badges adorn the kidney grille, gills and the boot lid, while the door sill plates have an illuminated logo. The tailpipes of the standard M Sport exhaust system are additionally finished in black chrome.
Five new paint finishes are available for the new model including Brands Hatch Grey, Motegi Red metallic, Tanzanite Blue II metallic, Aventurine Red II metallic and matte Frozen Bluestone metallic finishes from BMW Individual.
Champagne Quartz metallic offered previously has been renamed Alvit Grey metallic. Light-alloy wheel options now also include the 20-inch M double-spoke design in polished Orbit Grey familiar from the BMW M8.
At its heart though, it’s the new chassis, and revised suspension set-up with new shock absorbers, that will make all the difference.
The V8 unit under the bonnet of the BMW M5 Competition goes about its business in race car-derived, high-revving style with imposing muscularity and supreme power delivery.
Engine characteristics can be changed at the touch of a button from the basic EFFICIENT mode to SPORT and SPORT+, resulting in even more willing response to movements of the accelerator.
The BMW M5 Competition completes the standard sprint in just 3.3 seconds and races to 200km/h in a staggering 10.8 seconds. The top speed is 305km/h thanks to standard fitment of the M Driver’s Package on BMW M5 Competition models.
The BMW M5 Competition’s M Sport exhaust system features a dual-branch and flap-controlled design that produces a soundtrack to match the towering performance characteristics.
The 8-speed M Steptronic transmission enables extraordinarily short shift times and fast, precise responses to every nudge of the accelerator, while the Drivelogic rocker switch on the gear selector allows three modes to be chosen.
These include efficient, sporty or dynamically intense track driving options – the latter involving extremely rapid gearshifts. The driver can use both the selector lever and the shift paddles on the steering wheel to intervene manually.
Bespoke engine mounts with a stiffer spring rate are among the special features of the BMW M5 Competition.
The drive unit’s firmer connection to the vehicle’s structure is clearly perceptible, resulting in even more rapid engine response and immediate transmission of its power to the drive train.
The M5 also turns into corners with noticeably greater directness and precision thanks to the additional stiffness in the mounts.
The brake system is headlined by M Compound brakes that feature perforated, inner-vented brake discs and six-piston fixed calipers bearing the M logo at the front and single-piston floating calipers with an integrated parking brake at the rear.
As well as the standard blue painted finish, the calipers can now be finished in high-gloss black or high-gloss red as an option.
Optional M carbon ceramic brakes are recognisable by gold calipers with M logo (six-piston fixed calipers at the front, single-piston floating calipers at the rear).
The carbon ceramic brakes withstand wear exceptionally well, are 23 kilograms lighter, provide even greater braking performance and thermal stability and improved fade resistance.
The Interior features new high definition 12.3-inch centre control display , with new setup capabilities, with M Mode buttons providing simplified control of performance aspects . Track mode also features for the first time.
Pricing and specification details are to be announced closer to its arrival in dealerships. For Australians, you’ll be able to buy one from October 2020.
