Highlights

The 2012 BMW F10 M5 concept is expected to debut at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show in April (with a possible internet preview earlier) followed by the production car's debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Euro deliveries will begin in November 2011 and US deliveries begin in Spring 2012.

- Official world debut at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show (Frankfurt IAA)
- S63 V8 twin turbo engine from X5 and X6 M with estimated 585-600hp
- Driveline will get taller gearing
- 30% increase in torque over current M5 (will be around 500lb-ft @ 1500rpm!)
- Double wishbone front suspension with multi-link rear suspension
- Fully electric power steering with feel of hydraulic steering (3rd generation)


BMW’s M division has kicked off development of the fifth-generation M5, 25 years after the first model went on sale in the UK.

The new performance saloon, known internally under the codename F10M and due to make its first public appearance at the Frankfurt motor show in 2011, is set to mark a major departure from its predecessors by adopting turbocharging for the first time.

The decision is part of the drive to cut fuel consumption, a key element of BMW’s Efficient Dynamics programme. M division’s head of development, Albert Biermann, said the new driveline will also receive taller gearing, helping to cut CO2 emissions by 20 per cent, from 344g/km to around 275g/km.

“We’ve been forced to switch to an engine offering greater low-end torque than the naturally aspirated engine to ensure it can cope with the longer axle ratio,” Biermann said. “It’s the only real way we can balance achieving the environmental improvements we want while retaining similar levels of performance to today’s car.”

The engine’s output remains secret. But with the same unit pumping out 555bhp in the X5 and X6 M, the new car should stick to the M5 tradition of being more powerful than the car it replaces.

The most noticeable difference will be the way the new engine delivers its power. The V10’s 500bhp comes at 7750rpm, but the V8’s peak power should arrive at not much more than 6000rpm.

More than outright power, though, it is the added torque that is likely to bring the biggest change in character. Biermann indicated there will be a 30 per cent increase, taking torque from today’s 383lb ft at 6100rpm to somewhere around 500lb ft at little more than 1500rpm. Biermann is also confident the V8’s unique induction system will provide similar levels of throttle response to today’s model.

“The development process is at an early stage. We’re concentrating on the durability and cooling of the driveline at the moment,” said Biermann.

The V8 means the M5 will require additional cooling capacity for the intercooler as well as a means of extracting hot air created by the turbochargers.

Along with the new engine, the car will also get a new gearbox, a beefed-up version of the M3’s seven-speed DCT (dual-clutch transmission), as previewed on the 25th anniversary version of the M5 unveiled last week.

Although BMW has just introduced a new petrol-electric hybrid system on its new Active Hybrid 7, it has not been considered for the M5 due to the 100kg it adds to the car’s weight.

Weight saving is playing a big part in the M5’s development, with carbonfibre being used in the bodyshell. BMW is working on a carbonfibre roof and bootlid, mainly because, being sited on top of the car, they are less vulnerable to impact damage.

At the same time, a lot of effort is going into honing the aerodynamics at BMW’s new wind tunnel in Munich. The car will get Active Aerodynamics, which blanks off parts of the grille and cooling intakes during warm-up and under light throttle load.

The new M5 will continue the car’s tradition of visual understatement with a muscular appearance. LED lighting will be used to enhance the look and differentiate the M5 from the standard 5-series, a new generation of which is due early next year.

Underneath, there will be new double wishbone front suspension in place of the MacPherson strut set-up that has been a mainstay of the M5. It will be combined with multi-link rear suspension.

As with today’s model, active dampers will be used to provide the driver with the choice of differing levels of ride comfort. They will be part of a new chassis system that also includes reworked traction and stability management.

The M5 will also get new, fully electric power steering, described by Biermann as a third-generation system that offers similar levels of response and feedback to today’s hydraulic set-up.

Images and videos courtesy of Bimmerpost

YouTube - NEW 2011 BMW M5 F10 Nordschleife

YouTube - 2011 BMW M5 Spied on the Nurburgring

YouTube - 2012 BMW M5 spied testing at the Nurburgring

Spy pics from 9/9/2010

 

Shes a big girl, eh?

 

Really? I think it looks smaller than the current M5.

 

waiting for WildSpeed's photoshops now

 

Alex- look at picture 2 and 3. Check out the rear door, now look at the size of the window contained inside the rear door, near the rear panel. On a 3 Series,it's tiny. On the current 5'er it's still smaller then this car.


I could be wrong; but from what I've heard she's going to be 4500lbs+- that's a big girl. LOL (even heavier then a Panamera Turbo!)

 

^^^STOPPIE, please be wrong

 

That's a serious exhaust - look at those things on the lift shot. I am trying to see the brakes. Brakes have been an issue on M cars...

 

I think things are getting out of hand here. Too fat. Too many gizzmotechythingies on our beloved German cars.

Give me a solid platform, manual transmission, keep the weight around 3800bls, 300+ hp, some sweet seats, climate control,xenon's, decent stereo and a sunroof. And nice wheels 19". A nice, capabable sport sedan for around $50ish.

Keep all the electrical and sound -quiet material to a normal level. Not over the top so I can't hear anything or feel the road anymore.

 

The car you asked for exists... it's called an RS4.

 

I think it will be heavier, but not by that much!

Why does a base E60 look so awful, but in M5 trim it suddenly looks great?