The 2018 BMW M5 is a 600 HP All-Wheel Drive Monster
BMW has just released a number of new videos on the upcoming 2018 M5, confirming most of our suspicions.
First off, the BMW M5 will be the first M car ever to offer all-wheel drive, what BMW calls M xDrive. The system will offer three drive modes, 4WD mode, 4WD Sport mode and finally 2WD, allowing the car to be a pure rear-wheel driver when the driver wants.
According to BMW M CEO Frank van Meel, M xDrive will allow the car to use torque vectoring, helping it be a more precise driver’s car than in previous generations. An active M differential is also fitted to the new M5.
SEE ALSO: 2018 BMW M5 Shows its Face in New Spy Photos
BMW says it will be a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 under the hood making 600 horsepower and over 516 lb-ft of torque. As for curb weight, BMW wouldn’t give a straight answer, simply saying that the new M5 with xDrive all-wheel drive will be lighter than the current rear-wheel drive M5, which weighs about 4,500 pounds. A big factor in this weight loss if a roof made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).
A new eight-speed automatic gearbox is the only option and is used to cope with the higher output engine and to match up with the new xDrive system. Fuel economy is rated 10l/100km (23.5 mpg) combined, though that is on the typically generous European test cycle.
Combine all that and BMW says that the car will jump to 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 3.5 seconds.
The all-new BMW M5 will make its full debut sometime before the end of 2017.
Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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I have always said that 2wd cannot compensate 4wd with more power And Nissan Gtr is best example of it.
Bigger and Bigger!!!, How big can we go on UK roads?. London driving is hard enough in my 2017 M3 which is wide enough. This new M5 will be much wider.