MORE IMAGES capturing the next generation BMW M5 in ever-advancing stages of development have been making their way online.
Earlier this month, a heavily-disguised 2011 M5 prototype was spied lapping the Nurburgring, and now this week, much of the cladding has been dropped.
While a great deal more of the bodywork is now visible, the M3-like front bumper we saw earlier has been replaced with a new test piece wearing white mesh in each of the intakes.
BMW’s M Division is rumoured to be working on a twin turbo V8 engine for the M5, which - in time - will be matched to an F1-style KERS hybrid system.
Whatever direction the new M5 takes under the hood, spy photos taken this week reveal that development of the next M-powered 5 Series is well under way.
Using the 4.4 litre twin turbo V8 from the current X5M and X6M, BMW engineers are expected to massage the engine to produce up to 450kW. This comfortably shades the 373kW 5.0 litre V10 currently in use and is an appreciable lift over the 413kW available in the SUV offerings.
While it may not appear at launch, a KERS (for Kinetic Energy Recovery System) for the M5 would be an interesting proposition. Of course, the complexity of the hybrid system, which would boost the M5’s already formidable acceleration, may be a stumbling-block for BMW.
Also in the works is a new eight-speed dual clutch transmission to take over from the current seven-speed unit.
While the outright urge of the M5 is unlikely to disappear, a twin turbo engine should see a hefty dose of torque added to the M5’s list of abilities. A full range of M specific adjustments for steering and suspension will also be included
With BMW’s flagship M7 unlikely to make it to production, the M5 will carry the mantle as the fastest four-door in the M range.
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Havent they just ditched the KERs in F1 ?
450kws N.I.C.E.
Hopefully they can keep the high maximum RPM; a large part of the appeal of driving an M engine is the rush towards a high-RPM redline together with the metallic zing acoustics. The turbo could potentially dull both the sound and the ‘rush’, even though it would undoubtedly give you a massive shove in the back. (Witness cars like the Audi RS6 V10TT - massive plateau torque curve and undisputed performance, but apparently not a very exciting engine)
Of course my dear………high revving engines is what they are famous for.
Godspeed have a friend in the US that has the current M5 engine shoe horned into an E92, even you would part with your GT-R for that Im sure……. hair dryer or not!
That paint job’s awesome, they should just release it like that.
I for one am glad to see them going to a turbo configuration. One problem the M5 has is lack of low - midrange tourque. Nothing gives more of a rush than a turbo engine when it hits boost. But knowing BMW they will tune this thing to be linear in its torque delivery. Like 700Nm from 2000 - 6000rpm or something like that. We’ll have to wait and see. With the tuneability of turbo engines I can also see the aftermarket scene going crazy with these things, I’m sure plenty of drug dealers sorry I meant “property developers” are going to be throwing their cash at them.
With the fat tourque of a twin turbo engine why are they increasing gears to 8 speed. Bit of a w@nk if you ask me. They should be dropping a cog or too. Nothing more that a turbo engine loves than to be loaded up on a tall gear and use it’s massive amounts of tourque to accelerate out of. Any good tuner will tell you turbo engines love load under gear, that’s when they perform their best.
I suspect BMW know more about their own cars than “any good tuner” who doesn’t understand the difference between power and torque.
Good on em. V10 sounds awesome and works well at high revs. Unfortunately not many of the fat 50 yr old M5 drivers get above 4k rpm. Better to give em a fat torque curve they will use everday.