Many have said that the F10 M5 makes an impression closer to the E39 M5 than the immediately preceding E60 M5, by ditching the E60’s more avant garde lines and styling for the more direct and linear lines of the E39 generation. To us, this observation certainly has some merit, as borne out by the photo comparison below. To our eyes, the concept F10 M5 seemingly occupies the space between the E39 and E60 iterations - toning down the at-times controversial E60’s curvacious and nontraditional cutlines, but adding more flow and dynamic surface changes to the E39’s more classic upright design.
Many speculated that a AWD F10 M5 was possible in the works when BMW released the promo videos of the new M5 undergoing serious snow testing. It appears there may indeed possibly be an F10 M5 xDrive version sometime in the future. In an interview with Autocar, BMW M’s head of research and development, Albert Biermann, indicated that “There will be some all-wheel-drive surprises on M cars in the future,” apparently to satisfy demand from the US’s snow belt. This would represent the first time that the M5 come in a xDrive variant.
The only transmission details released so far for the concept F10 M5 is that it uses a Getrag 7-speed M DCT with M Drivelogic and has an Active M Differential.
We undertook yesterday a photo comparison of the F10 M5 concept versus the E60 M5 concept. But how does the F10 M5 compare to its direct German rivals - the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG and the Audi RS6. Let’s take a look below.
F10 M5: (official photos and info):
Engine: High revving twinpower turbo V8
Transmission: 7-speed M DCT with M Drivelogic (manual transmission option status still unknown)
Differential: Active M Differential
Tires Front 265/35/ ZR 20
Tires Rear 295/30 ZR 20
E63 AMG:
Engine: 6.2L V8 525bhp / 465 lb-ft. torque (naturally aspirated)
Acceleration (0-62 mph) 4.5 seconds
Top Speed 155 mph, electronically limited
Transmission: AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission
Differential: Electronic locking LSD with ESP selectable suspension
Tires Front 255/35 R 19
Tires Rear 285/30 … CONTINUED
The F10 M5 concept was officially unveiled online today [official photos/video/info] to much excitement and anticipation. The F10 M5 represents the successor to the now fabled E60 M5, which began production in 2005 and ended last year. The F10 M5 concept’s official press release photos reminded us much of the E60 M5 concept’s debut photos. We’ve posted up some comparison photos below.
Not much technical info or specs have been released so far for the F10 M5, but what we do know is that the engine will be a high revving twinpower turbo V8 (albeit different from the X5/6 M), the transmission will include a 7-speed M DCT with M Drivelogic (manual transmission option status still unknown), and up to 25% fuel efficiency increase over the E60 … CONTINUED
Today marks the public release of the all new BMW Concept M5 ahead of its formal debut in Shanghai.
Now as you may have quickly noticed, the word ‘concept’ sits between BMW and M5, meaning this car is not yet the full production vehicle. In typical BMW M fashion, first a “concept” version of the car is rolled out to the public, in order to showcase what the car will look like, painted in stunning Chrome Shadow. After this car has been shown to the world, the full production version will then be released.
Follow the jump for all the media!
What a treat. While covering the M Event in Germany today, Jason and Southlight were invited to tour the BMW M facility, including underground into BMW M’s garage. No not the employee parking garage– THE GARAGE. Yes, the garage where BMW M stores a copy of every single M car ever made. Many of them you or I have never seen or heard of before. Cars that we may have thought about or dreamed about, but never materialized.
The event itself was a special BMW M Press Conference at M GmbH headquarters in Garching, Munich, held in the M Studio. First up was the press conference where the M3 pickup rolled into the M studio. It was finally (and not surprisingly) announced as an April Fool’s Joke. … CONTINUED
We recently posted the F10 M5 [URL="http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501764"]teaser and trailer (with commentary)[/URL] from BMW, but here’s the raw uncut footage, featuring nothing but the visuals and sounds from the F10 M5 undergoing winter testing. 30 minutes of pure unadulterated F10 M5 goodness. The F10 M5 concept’s debut is nearly upon us so stay tuned for coverage!
Speculation around possible transmission options for the upcoming F10 M5 continues. Last week relieving news trickled in as EVO’s Chris Harris and other outlets confirmed that BMW will not resort to their widely used 8-speed ZF automatic transmission but instead use a beefed up 7-speed M-DCT for the M5. This leaves one remaining ‘mystery’ regarding M5 transmission options — whether there will be a manual transmission available. German Focus appears to know more on the matter as they mention in a today’s article about fast sedans:
“A manual transmission will again be available for the M5 - but for the US market only where operating a manual gearbox is still not considered troublesome.”
This makes perfect sense as BMW surely doesn’t want to have the ‘E60 M5 … CONTINUED
While we’re all waiting for its official debut, BMW continues testing FEP prototypes of the F10 M5. Spotted in SoCal, here are more pictures of a beautiful M5 in Silverstone II, a nice silver color with a light blue hue already known from the E60 M5. The previous Silverstone II sighting was at the Schipol Airport in the Netherlands.
The M5 will feature a twin-turbo twin-scroll V8 with an output of at least 555hp (internal code S63) and — according to latest reports — mated to a 7-speed DCT transmission. Expect the M5 to make its first appearance as a concept at the Shanghai Motor Show in April with the production version being one highlight of the IAA Frankfurt this September. BMW will help us waiting by … CONTINUED
