We have been attending BMW’s track press launch of the 2013 M5 sedan, 2013 M6 coupe, 2013 M5 sedan, 2013 7 Series LCI (facelift), and Alpina B7 being held at the Laguna Seca raceway in Monterey, CA. We’ll be sharing our thoughts soon on some of these cars, but in the meantime, enjoy some photos of the F10 M5 from Laguna Seca. We focused on the Sakhir Orange M5 as it’s a new color as of the 2013 model year.

For real life looks at the other M5 production colors, see our OFFICIAL F10 M5 Color Photo Threads Master List

BIMMERPOST shares with you our short term road test review of the 2012 BMW F10 M5, taken place over two weeks of daily driving with the M5.

Some people don’t like change. But BMW isn’t some people (or even a person), so it’s no surprise that they don’t mind change. Take the new BMW F10 M5 for instance: The mighty yet rushed 1 Series M Coupe and some M trucks aside, the new M5 is the first true M car to get a turbocharged engine. So, is it still a true M? After 14 days and roughly 2,000km in a 2012 Frozen Grey M5, I think I can give my subjective answer.

Size Matters

The F10 5 series is neither small nor light, and the same holds true … CONTINUED

The manual transmission for the BMW M5 is not extinct just yet. The North American market receives a manual transmission option for the 2013 F10 M5 and an M5POST members is one of the first to have an opportunity to test out the manual M5. He has published his review for us, together with video of the 6MT shifting action. Read on inside…

The M5 recently made its return to Nurburgring taxi duty while taking on a different and newer form – the F10 M5. We previously posted footage of the M5 taxis running around the ‘Ring,’ but here’s in-car footage from a one lap run around the track. Check out the cool superimposed track map, speed, and G-force displays.

The taxi ride was a gift from a son for his dad’s 65th birthday and the driver was Walter Haup, an M5 taxi driver and instructor for M driver training programs.

The lap time isn’t nearly what the F10 M5 is capable of as the point of M5 taxi rides is not to achieve the best time possible, but the fastest Nurburgring lap time officially listed for the F10M is 7:55 … CONTINUED

The very first M3 M Performance Edition produced has been sighted. Seen in the UK recently was this Frozen Japan Red M3. Just 30 of these M3 M Performance Edition models were ever made and this was the very first of the 30 to be produced. This special edition M3 was offered exclusively for the UK market at a price of £74,080.

The M3 M Performance Edition was announced in May, together with the M5 M Performance Edition.

Showcasing BMW Individual, these M Performance Editions brought three new Frozen paint colors to the UK for the first time – BMW Individual Japan Red with a Frozen Red wrap, BMW Individual Frozen White and BMW Individual Frozen Blue.

All M3 M Performance Editions come with extended Black Novillo leather upholstery, … CONTINUED

Site member Palbay spotted the new F13 M6 Coupe in Sakhir Orange with M Carbon Ceramic Brakes at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, SC. Posing next to it was a Monte Carlo Blue M5 for a good visual comparison of the two cars.

Here are the physical stats compared between the M6 coupe and M5 sedan.

Height:
M6 – 1374 mm
M5 – 1451 mm (3.03 inches higher than M6 coupe)

Width:
M6 – 2106 mm (to side mirrors)
M5 – 2119 mm (to side mirrors) (0.51 inches wider than M6 coupe)

Length:
M6 – 4898 mm
M5 – 4910 mm (0.47 inches longer than M6 coupe)

Wheelbase:
M6 – 2851 mm
M5 – 2964 mm (4.44 inches longer than M6 coupe)

Weight (unladen (DIN/EU)):
M6 – 1850kg / 1925kg (4078 lb / 4243 lb)
M5 – 1870kg / 1945kg … CONTINUED

Akrapovic has released a feature video showcasing their evolution exhaust system for the F10 M5.

The exhaust manufacturer claims a +10hp, +17Nm (12.5 lb-ft) torque gain, and 12kg (26 pounds) weight saving over the factory exhaust.

The system is claimed to lower the back pressure and gives the M5 more power and torque through the whole range of RPMs while increasing responsiveness. Gains are achieved without removing the catalytic converters.

The new Evolution exhaust system consists of newly developed dual-outlet mufflers with exhaust valves, flow-optimized pipes, and a cast titanium X-shaped part with resonators. The X-pipe, valves, and flange assembly are produced in the company’s foundry. The system is available with either titanium or the carbon fiber exhaust tips seen in the video.

Italian tuner Romeo Ferraris has announced its tuning program for the F10 M5.

Featuring a ECU software tune and sports exhaust system, it pushes the M5 to 657 PS (648 hp) and 790 Nm (583 lb-ft) torque. That’s +97 PS (96 hp) and 110 Nm (81 lb-ft) increase over the factory M5 power figures.

The sports exhaust system alone (featured in the video below) is claimed to provide a +21 hp and +30 Nm of torque gain.

Although it’s a powerful beast, it’s clear that a stock F10 M5 is no match for the Ferrari 458 on the track. But, how about a tuned M5 with 640hp? The M5 is tuned by PP-Performance to 640HP and 780 NM torque. Goes from 0-100kmh in 3.9 seconds and 310kmh top speed.

Check out the results from this comparison video of the M5 vs Ferrari at the Yas Marina track in Abu Dhabi.