BMW M5; Infiniti Project 9 Concept; Mercedes-benz Vision Maybach 6 Cabriolet Concept; In the pipeline; Ferrari Portofino; Volkswagen T-roc; Vanquish Zagato Speedster; Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake; BMW Z4 Concept; Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta; Aston Martin

kw beast with M5 is a 441 BMW’S new ground clawing the all four paws

POWER-PLANTED

The F90 M5 is propelled by a revised version of the company’s 4,4-litre turbopetrol V8. This unit’s 441 kw, on tap between 5 600 and 6 700 r/min, and a hearty 750 N.m from 1 800 r/min, is channelled via the trusted eight-speed ZF auto transmission feeding a performance-oriented AWD system.

CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON

The M xdrive AWD system has been overhauled to provide greater flexibility as to how power is transmitted to the tarmac. You can cycle through 4WD, 4WD sport and rear-wheel drive.

STICKY PAWS OR WAGGING TAIL?

There are five different configurations to choose from based on combinations of the dynamic stability-control modes (DSC on; MDM; DSC off). In the basic setting with DSC activated and 4WD, the system permits slight slip through the rear wheels when accelerating out of corners. In M Dynamic mode (MDM; 4WD sport), M xdrive allows what BMW calls “easily controlled drifts”.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Along with lightly redesigned front side panels and front bumper trim, a new rear diffuser and the exhaust system’s quartet of tailpipes round out the styling highlights. The bonnet is fashioned from aluminium and the roof from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic, measures that pare the weight down to 1 855 kg from the previous car’s 1 945 kg.