2018 BMW M5

Next-Gen BMW M5 Spotted Testing Confirming It Will Be Plug-In Hybrid

A while back we heard rumours that the next-gen BMW M5 would go hybrid and that latest spy shots of the new high-performance 5 Series have now confirmed that.

The shots clearly show a 5 Series sedan that means business with its huge brakes and typical quad exhausts.

Found on the driver’s door is the sticker revealed “Hybrid Test Vehicle” and if that is not obvious enough, you can easily notice the flap on the front fender on the driver’s side further revealing it will be a PHEV. The extra “fuel cap” has just about the same size, shape, and position as the one you’ll find on the current 545e xDrive.

So will the new M5 retain the brilliant twin-turbocharged V8? If we were to guess we would say yes because ex-M CEO Markus Flasch said the engineers are still finding ways to make the eight-cylinder engine (and the inline-six) more efficient to cut fuel consumption and meet stricter emissions regulations. He went on to say both performance engines will live to see 2030 at the very least.


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New 2024 BMW M5 to get 700bhp hybrid V8

Reinvented super-saloon appears for the first time as M division steps up its electrification push

BMW’s M performance car division will give the seventh-generation M5 a new hybrid drivetrain that is set to boost its reserves to “over 700bhp” and offer “limited electric drive compatibility”, a source close to the German car maker has confirmed.

Due on sale in 2024, the new super-saloon is among a series of M models that will switch from a conventional petrol engine to plug-in hybrid power in a move that will provide it with a hike in power and performance.

Details remain scarce more than two years out from the new M5's launch, but Autocar has received information that suggests it will adopt a rear-mounted electric motor among a raft of major engineering changes.

The in-house-produced synchronous unit is claimed to operate in combination with a further-developed version of BMW's twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine used by today’s sixth-generation model and codenamed the S63.

The adoption of the electric motor is set to increase the M5’s reserves by more than 200bhp and up to 220lb ft to somewhere in the region of 790bhp and over 737lb ft of torque. The recently revealed Concept XM – which previews a production car due next year – packs 740bhp courtesy of a similar arrangement.

 
Next BMW M5 to offer more than 520kW, source says

It seems the German super saloon power war won’t be over any time soon, with the next-generation BMW M5 set to push well beyond the 500kW mark according to the latest rumours.

Although nothing is officially confirmed, Autocar reports that a source close to the car company has stated that the next-generation BMW M5 will come with a hybrid drivetrain that boosts its power output to beyond 700bhp (520kW). Some rumours even pointing to around 590kW and 1000Nm, ludicrous as that sounds. Consider that the current BMW M5 pushes a ‘mere’ 460kW and 750Nm.

It is believed that the upcoming super saloon, due in 2024, will come with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that will pair an updated version of the current 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 to a rear-mounted electric motor.

As before power will go to all four wheels through a rear-biased xDrive all-wheel drive system, Autocar said, and M fans can also look forward to a “heavily reworked” chassis.

While the new BMW M5 is expected to hit the shelves in two years from now, the next-generation ‘regular’ 5 Series is set to surface in 2023, offering a wide variety of powertrains that allow customers to choose from internal combustion, plug-in hybrid and fully electric variants. The new 5 will be formed around an updated version of the current CLAR architecture.

 
BMW M5 CS: Bavaria’s fastest-ever production car (price update)

Update:
Towards the end of February 2022, one of the first BMW M5 CS units landed on SA shores, with BMW Bedfordview’s dealer principal showcasing the newcomer on his Instagram page. The price? A cool R3.84 million.


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All 10 Units Of BMW M5 CS Headed To South Africa Are Sold

BMW South Africa recently started delivery of the meanest BMW ever made, the M5 CS and if you want one you are out of luck as all 10 units (up from the original 5) destined for our shores have been spoken for.

With a price tag of R3,8m, you will need deep pockets and a love for the Bavarian brand like no other. You can bet the 10 lucky owners have some other special German machines lurking in their pristine garages.

Five units finished in BMW Individual Frozen Deep Green and five in Brands Hatch Grey metallic will see South African soil.

The very first model delivered in South Africa (seen below) was done at BMW Bedfordview where the dealer arrange every generation of the mighty M5 to be present to make the delivery a little more special.

As a reminder, the most powerful production BMW in the world packs the familiar 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 delivering a whopping 626 hp (467 kW). Standard features include the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic and the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which also offers a 2WD mode for pure rear-wheel drive.




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BMW M4 Competition xDrive Laps ‘Ring Marginally Quicker Than M5 CS

Last year we saw the team from Sport Auto head onto the Nurburgring in the RWD BMW M4 Competition where they managed to set a time of 7:30.79.

Now the xDrive variant is available so they had another go with some extra traction and drive.

The quickest lap they could achieve was 7:28,57 which means it is more than 2 seconds faster than the rear-wheel-drive sibling. We thought it would be a bit more to be honest but what is also impressive is that it fractionally beat their time set in the M5 CS of 7:29.50.


 
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