Sunday Star-Times

Flagship M5 sedan goes AWD

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BMW has finally revealed the new sixth-generation M5, but this time around the super-sedan is a bit different.

Previous iterations of the flagship 5-series have all been RWD vehicles, but the new car will come standard with a new M-specific version of BMW’s xDrive AWD system.

M xDrive is a rear-biased set-up that only brings the front wheels into play when the rear wheels aren’t able to transmit any more power to the road and additional tractive force is required. BMW says the principal hardware components of M xDrive are based on those of the BMW xDrive allwheel-drive system and the Active M Differenti­al, with M-specific software. The drivetrain has been reinforced for greater rigidity and strength to factor in the high torque, rear-biased configurat­ion and 2WD option. Yes, that’s right: you can switch it to 2WD at any time.

The driver can choose from five different configurat­ions based on combinatio­ns of the DSC modes (DSC On, M Dynamic Mode, DSC Off) and M xDrive modes (AWD, AWD Sport, 2WD).

Which is basically a safely corporate way to say that the AWD M5 can still do massive skids, if that is your thing.

While BMW hasn’t released any performanc­e or power figures for the new M5, it is powered by the latest version of the potent twin turbo 4.4-litre V8 that the company says ‘‘outperform­s its predecesso­r in terms of power output and torque’’.

Enhancemen­ts to the engine include higher injection pressure, new turbocharg­ers, more powerful lubricatio­n and cooling systems and a modified, lighter exhaust system.

 ?? SUPPLIED ?? New M5 offers buyers AWD, but with the option to go oversteer-happy RWD at any time.
SUPPLIED New M5 offers buyers AWD, but with the option to go oversteer-happy RWD at any time.

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