First Drive: The New BMW M5

The M5 was born with a straight six, and we all loved it. Later, it got a V8, and we loved it all the more. Then, BMW fitted a V10, and some of us weren’t so sure. Now? It’s back to a V8, but with twin turbos – and cue a reaction from some quarters that night has become day and everything right in the world has been turned on its head.

A turbocharged BMW M car? Yes, and because of to the need to be green, we’d best get used to it: more forced induction M cars are on the cards. Need we worry? Not according to M, which promises us the new M5 is as responsive as the naturally aspirated cars it forged its reputation on.

The new M5 is thus a litmus test car. Can an M GmbH car still convince, still appeal to the soul, even when it’s packing a duo of turbos? Not only that, can it also stand up to scrutiny when the engine is derived from an existing mainstream motor, rather than being an M-bespoke design? That’s right, the F10 M5’s 560hp motor is a derivation of that also seen in the 550i… so why is this an M5, then, and not an M 550i?