BMW M5 xDrive: A new chapter in BMW's M5 narrative

BMW M5 xDrive: A new chapter in BMW's M5 narrative

‍The history of the BMW M5 is quite fascinating. It first debuted in 1984 with the E28, which was known for being the fastest production sedan in the world at the time, earning the infamous Matchbox nickname locally.

It wielded a 3.5-litre straight-six engine that had 210kW of power sent to the rear axle using a 5-speed manual transmission—a groundbreaking setup at the time.

The second-generation E34 M5 replaced it in 1988 after its four-year lifespan. It’s this particular generation that was assembled here in Mzansi at the Rosslyn plant, making the E34 M5 a unique and memorable part of BMW’s local history. 

Affectionately known as the Sjangalala in SA, it made use of the S38 straight-six engine, which was just an evolution of the previous iteration’s straight-six 3.6-litre unit with 234kW. However, the powerplant was upgraded to a bigger 3.8-litre with 250kW of power, thus making it a strong contender in the performance sedan stable until the introduction of the E39 in 1998. 

Ditching the in-line straight-six engine, the E39, locally nicknamed the ‘Anaconda’, became the first M5 to use a V8 engine and also the first to wield aluminium front suspension components and a multi-link rear suspension. 

In 2004, BMW M introduced the fourth variation M5, codenamed E60, and this marked the beginning of an interesting era in the history of M cars, thanks to a new naturally aspirated 5.0-litre S85 V10 engine—a unit born from the brand’s collaboration with Williams F1—that was paired with a 7-speed paddle-shift SMG transmission. It was the world's first production saloon to use a V10 petrol engine, and it was a highly sought-after model among collectors worldwide.

Tighter emissions regulations, weight, and the prevailing turbocharging trend cut the life of the V10 powerplant short, forcing BMW M to downgrade to a smaller 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo engine in the F10 M5, initially used in the E70 X5 M. With 412kW and 680Nm wholly sent to the rear axle via a 7-speed DCT gearbox, the F10 M5 was a beast of note and left an indelible mark of trying to kill its unskilled owners. It was that brutal. 

So, BMW had to come up with a plan to make the M5 safer to drive, even for the average user, while remaining true to its M5 ethos—a move that saw the introduction of the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system in the F90 M5 introduced in 2017, and that has been the case since then. With a potent 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 at its heart, modern systems, and performance to boot, it became the most complete super sedan of them all. 

This brings us to the subject at hand: the seventh instalment of the BMW M5, which, as far as initial impressions go, is poised to become yet another formidable super sedan when it launches locally in the fourth quarter of the year. 

To begin with, it borrows a lot from the brutal XM, such as the 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that works in tandem with the M Hybrid system, which consists of a single electric motor that is fed power by a 14.8kWh battery pack, good for a total system output of 535kW and an astounding 1,000Nm of torque. 

Pair the setup with the M xDrive system and the 8-speed M Steptronic transmission, and you get an M5 that blisters from 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds en route to a top speed of 250km/h or 305km/h with the M Driver's Package. According to BMW, the hybridised M5 can travel up to 69 kilometres between chargers and allows 7.4kW AC charging. 

In terms of looks, it’s an astonishing work of art. In M5 fashion, you get an aggressive front end ‍that sees the introduction of twin LED headlights arranged vertically, a large kidney grille, and flush-mounted door handles, while the rear gets taillights that are separated by a chrome strip with the L-shaped signature lighting as well as two pairs of black chrome dual tailpipes that measure 100mm. 

As standard, the performance sedan rides on M light-alloy wheels that measure 20 inches at the front and 21 inches at the rear. Standard M compound brakes or optional M carbon ceramic brakes provide the stopping power.

The interior is fitted with M-specific bits and pieces that range from a flat-bottomed M leather steering wheel with illuminated M buttons and M multifunction seats to a standard head-up display with M-specific content. Like most recent BMWs, the M5 gets the same curved display and an upgraded version of the iDrive, which is based on the OS 8.5 operating system. 

The new BMW M5 is now a finer saloon, and despite the F90 being the last-ever pure ICE version, its recipe is arguably more polished than the previous iterations. 

The M5 xDrive is earmarked for its world debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England in July, and production will begin at the BMW Group Plant in Dingolfing in the same month.

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