The 2011 BMW M5 saloon will have a 0 to 100 km/h time 0.3 seconds faster than the current model, according to sources. The car will receive a significant boost in power and torque, and a generous increase in efficiency.
Unfortunately, those who want an estate version will have to look elsewhere. No new BMW M5 Touring is reportedly planned for production at this time.
Engineers at the German automaker achieved the faster time despite dumping the 5,0-litre V10-engine in favour of their new 4,4-litre bi-turbo V8. Power on the engine, already seen in the X5 M, bounces up to 425 kW while torque is increased over the most recent M5 by 40% from 515 N.m to 720 N.m.
Even with better performance, the car will use an estimated 30% less fuel, while pumping out similarly reduced emissions, with final figures expected to be around 10 l/100km. This was not only accomplished with weight management, but through the use of the company’s Efficient Dynamics system. A kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), developed by the company’s ex-F1 programme, may also make it to the final vehicle.
If the 250 km/h speed limiter were removed, the car would top out around 303 km/h. The 2011 BMW M5 should be introduced at the end of 2010, with market launch in the spring of 2011.
