2013 BMW M5

Faster? Yes. More complex? Yes. More fun in heels? Yes. Is the new BMW M5, which we are accustomed to expect from BMW's M division? Hmm, well, as we discovered during the session in southern Spain, the future of M is large, windy, hot, gushing torque-turbine installed on smaller engines with the mass production of roots. Days on the job and the high speed track-bred shouters jump up under the hood, BMW is likely over. Is this bad? We're not sure.

This fifth-generation M5, known internally as F10, is expected to arrive in the United States at the end of next summer, likely as 2013 models and the anticipated base price of about $ 90,000. BMW M5 wants to be more flexible and daily run. So those hoping for a twitchier, a generator with adrenaline than the outgoing E60 M5 may leave disappointed. M5 is unapologetically heavy, executive express, velvet wrapped hammer shark whale in clothes that need to bolt it comfortably wealthy owner of up to 60 miles / h in 3.8 seconds or so, about half a second faster than the old M5 with SMG only clutch automated manual. It may not be a four-door Elise, but the new M5 can run.

In addition, we believe that the M5 will rocket over the quarter-mile of pavement in the hair for 12 seconds when using missile-control automatic transmission system that shaves a little time, reducing the adhesion of about 3,000 rpm and shift for you. Radially mounted six-piston front calipers Brembo monoblock on drilled rotors with bimetallic iron-aluminum wheels and hats scrub speed quickly, although the M5 saddled a couple of hundred pounds more than before. (Despite the use of aluminum doors and aluminum hood, the new M5 mass creeps up to 4300 or so pounds.) So that it could not eclipse his predecessor's 158-foot 70 miles / hour-to-0 braking figure.

Hydraulic control is better, but not perfect

As the M way, all that performance disguised as understated mods to the basic 5-series, including a square front and rear fascias, you need four exhaust pipes, new sill skirts, trunk wing, the wing openings, and special 19-inch wheels (20s are optional). Inside, there are thousands of buttons and needles dance and digital evidence, including Head-Up Display projected onto the windshield, that disappears when you're wearing polarized sunglasses. Upholstery leather stitched sea, and the rest soft-touch plastic highlighted an unusual group of vertically-striped metal finish that looks like a corrugated roof huts Quonset.

The new M5, you can not choose the transfer, press the pedal, or turn the wheel without help from many computers vigilant monitoring your every twitch of the body. BMW goes to length to make the electronic layer between you and the machine transparent, or at least subject to shutdown, and it is largely successful. But a small artificial fog persists, particularly in the steering, converted from electrical-based assistance in the 5-series models for a more natural sense of momentum in hydraulic M5.

Due to acute collapse of the M5 and the caster wheel setup quickly fulfills your team and doing everything you could ever want, all that, but talk to those little tugs of organic and failures that make the car a lively feel, well, alive. But the suspension of forged control arms, links and joints, which accounted for virtually absent from the current number of 550i, is more neutral than the old M5 and more easily and gradually choke-managed through the corners. It can be difficult, but the new M5 has become easier on the feet to 3.4-mile circuit Askari south of Seville, pea shooting from corner to corner with blazing power, turning into a brisk, no significant roll in the body, or squish down into the bus, and then the selection in one long, passionate, controlled skid.
Along with the three drivers chosen for the stability of the control modes, three settings for throttle response, three levels of firmness to shocks, and three variants of the velocity shear, is-it-your-way M5 offers three modes of control, which gradually reduce the increase. From Mercedes to improve his game in this department, especially in the new CLS, we think Benz and BMW are going to meet in the middle of what feels an awful lot like the new M5.

 Power delivery of 560 hp, 4360 cc, twin-turbo V-8-yes, 560 horses from only 266 cubic inches, it's a blast, literally, from about 1500 rpm to 6000, during which Honeywell two turbines located in the valley of the engine block of strong winds blow. There's so much torque on the stern of the ferry, even with an electronic clutch plates are locked differential, and a 295/35 Michelin Pilot SuperSport rear wheels, a rear end break traction easily from the spot at wide-open acceleration.

Tachometer needle will swing up to 7200, before it gets red, but it is not necessary. Stated reason 4.4 'high red carpet is lappers, who wanted to spend more gears, but we suspect that the real reason is to pay tribute to the legacy of M in the upper high end. Old E60 V-10 thread in 8250. This engine, Elvis leaves a lot of potential at 6,000 rpm, and he shuffles out quietly, as fierce throaty engine pull heavily muffled turbine.

Manual Transmission in Limbo?

Dubbed S63 specifications for a "technical update", oddly configured "return flow" V-8 in which food intake manifold and exhaust gases from the outside comes in the form is, large and small changes compared to the S63 in BMW X5 M and X6 M. fundamentals remain the same, but throttleless Valvetronic induction controls are available on the BMW S63 TU, and more turbines, intercoolers, fuel injectors and various control electronics, as well as a higher compression ratio of 10.0:1.

Power delivery, dare we say it's almost like a diesel. Of course, it turns faster and sounds better than any diesel, and delivery lumpier as raising going on or blow away, but at 502 S63 W lb-ft to reach full capacity only on the idle at 1500 rpm and 5750 rpm to stay per minute, the numbers that would make Mr. Diesel blush. Getrag dual-clutch seven-speed automatic, enhanced version of the add-on module M3, designed in height, with double overdrive and 3.15:1 final drive, to save fuel and use the curve of engine power, or the relative lack of the curve, as it were. We were told that the U.S. will once again get a six-speed manual stick, but officials on the disc and were not prepared to confirm the plan.

"There are days you can hear clear across the Atlantic: 'We need a manual transmission," said Albert Biermann, vice president of engineering for M division of BMW. ". A few days in Munich to hear the guys, sometimes I just can not "Solution: Scream louder.

One thing BMW had heard complaints about the small fuel tank to E60. F10 holds an additional 2.6 gallons, or 21.1 total. When testing is complete, EPA next year, the average mileage could land somewhere in the low 20s, we said, a significant increase over this old M5 manual, which was rated at 11 miles per gallon city/17 highway.

M5 quantifiably superior car to its predecessor. Some things can not be quantified, however, such as the sublime joy of sky-high redline, and the sound of the instrument precision winding road to reach it. And therein lies the mystery of BMW, and ours. We are all more effective, more powerful monsters of torque, but probably not to the detriment of the individual.