2012 BMW M5 – Road Test TV

The 2012 BMW M5 was recently spied testing at Germany’s famed Nurburgring.

The new M5 should debut at an international auto show during 2010, and be available to the public for sale in 2011.

BMW’s latest M5 is due for some serious changes, including replacing its race inspired high rpm 5 liter V10 with a smaller twin-turbocharged  V8. 

The last generation BMW M5 was powered by a 5.0-liter 500 horsepower V10.  The latest M5 is packing a twin-turbo, direct-injected 4.4-liter V8 similar to the engine that powers the M version of the X5 and X6.   BMW, like other manufacturers, has to comply with stricter emission and fuel efficiency standards and is turning to smaller displacement engines and turbocharging to maintain or improve power levels and  increase efficiency.

In spite of its smaller engine,  technology and twin-turbochargers have the latest M5 producing at least 555 horsepower and may be closer to 600 horsepower.  Also, a big issue with the V10 M5 was its poor fuel mileage.  BMW appears to have addressed that issue  with the upcoming M5.

The transmission on the new M5 will not be the current M5’s SMG.  It’s definitely dead (good news) and almost certain to be replaced by BMW’s twin-clutch M-DCT system with likely seven forward gears.

The M5 will still be a rear-wheel drive sedan, not all wheel drive,  and packed with traction management technology to take this twin turbo M5’s performance to new levels.

Outside,  the new BWM  M5 maintains last generation’s (E60) traditional turbine style wheels and quad exhaust outlets.  “M” fender vents are still present as are extremely large ventilated brake rotors clearly indicating that this BMW sedan means business.

We look forward to the performance test of the next generation twin turbo M5 and believe it will post better performance numbers than the current V10 version.