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Snow states and a state of heightened power add a driven axle to BMW’;s M5.
What It Is: A current-generation BMW M5 sedan testing a new feature that is headed to the next-generation M5: all-wheel drive. (Or, in BMW-speak, “xDrive.”) The presence of front driveshafts on this prototype—and our spy photographer’s insistence that all 4 wheels had been being powered for the duration of a drift—indicates that BMW is certainly testing the application of all-wheel drive to its high-powered supersedan. This comes as no surprise, truly, as we’ve heard from BMW that just such a drive configuration has been regarded for the subsequent M5.
Why It Matters: Say what you will about BMW’s at-occasions murky management of its M GmbH functionality sub-brand—hello, porky X5 M and X6 M, over-technified M3 and M4, and so forth.—but so far the organization has stuck to excellent ol’ fashioned rear-drive for its stalwart M5. Were BMW to offer xDrive on the subsequent M5, due out around 2017, it would mark the initial break from the formula. Ever.
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Apart from expanding the M5’s appeal to moneyed performance junkies stuck in cold climates, the addition of all-wheel drive could indicate that BMW plans to make the already powerful sedan even more so. The Competitors Pack–equipped M5 currently lays down 575 horsepower, but with Cadillac’s CTS-V murdering everyone’s ego with 640 ponies, probabilities are BMW will return fire with an output figure that starts with a “6.”
Platform: Given that this M5 prototype wears current bodywork and likely sits on the identical chassis, it provides tiny in the way of a preview of the next M5. Since “light-weighting” is each and every auto exec’s favourite buzzword, the subsequent M5 (and the 5-series sedan it’s based on) must shed some pounds. A 2017 5-series test mule we’ve spotted indicates that BMW is not overturning any tables in the styling department, sticking with a largely evolutionary appear. This should carry more than to the spicier M5.
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Powertrain: All-wheel drive is the big news for the 2017 M5, but will it be normal? Audi’s S6 and its more M-comparable RS7 come exclusively with Quattro all-wheel drive, and Mercedes-Benz lately slapped 4MATIC all-wheel drive on all U.S.-bound E63 AMG models even even though it does continue to provide the sedan and wagon in Europe without it. Our bet is that BMW will offer xDrive as an selection, each in the U.S. and abroad. American M5 clients are a vocal bunch and have been in a position to sway BMW to offer you a manual transmission on the current M5 when the business was threatening to nix it if those exact same folks dislike AWD, BMW will know. Regardless of the quantity of driven wheels, appear for BMW’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 to reappear with at least 600 horsepower.
Competition: Audi RS7, Cadillac CTS-V, Lexus GS F, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.
Estimated Arrival and Price: The new 5-series goes on sale later this year, which indicates it won’t attain our shores till 2016. The M model normally trails by a year, but this timeline could be compressed to much better match up with Cadillac’s introduction of the new CTS-V, meaning the BMW could even go on sale the very same year as its a lot more pedestrian counterpart. Anything significantly less than $ 25,000 likely will not get you into a new M5, so spending budget accordingly.
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