New BMW M5 gains 4WD
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as required. Though the M5 automatically defaults to 4WD with DSC stability control every time the vehicle is started, and which will still allow a touch of oversteer, drivers will be able to toy with four other combinations for the two systems.
Dial in M Dynamic Mode, for instance, and the system sends even more power to the rear wheels to allow for “controlled drifts”. Switch off the DSC completely and you’re left with three more options: 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD.
The former provides a neutral balance for poor roads, while 4WD Sport is geared towards track days and then the rearwheel-drive mode, as you’d well imagine, is for skilled drivers who want to party like it’s 1985.
The 4WD M5 is also much quicker off the mark, with zero to 100km/h taking just 3.4 seconds, according to BMW, whereas its predecessor took 4.3 secs.
Top speed is an electronically limited 250km/h, but the optional M Driver’s Package allows it to blitz to 305km/h.
BMW has upgraded the familiar 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, which now produces 441kW between 5600-6700rpm, and 750Nm from 1800-5600rpm.
That’s even more torque than the previous M5 Competition Edition, which was good for 441kW and 700Nm.
The V8 gets new turbochargers, improved cooling and lubrication as well as higher injection pressure and a new exhaust that’s said to offer an even more guttural soundtrack. The engine is mated to an eight-speed M Steptronic autobox with three modes and steering-mounted shift paddles.
Inside, the new M5 gets with the digital programme as per its tamer 5 Series siblings, while adding plenty of M-specific goodies, such as a unique M-style analogue instrument cluster, improved Head-Up Display with ‘M View’ option and an M sports steering wheel with driver-configurable M Drive buttons that can store your drive settings.
It will be launched in South Africa in the first quarter of 2018, available in a standard model and a special First Edition version, of which there will only be 400 examples worldwide, with Frozen Dark Red Metallic paint.