Ever since I got bitten by the car bug, the BMW M5 has been a holy grail. It’s the ultimate blend of speed and luxury, a car that can take you from a boardroom meeting to a track day without breaking a sweat. So when news about the upcoming seventh generation M5 started swirling around, I was glued to my screen, devouring every leaked photo and whispered rumour.
The prospect of a new M5 is always exciting, but this one feels different. BMW is going all-in on a hybrid V8, and while I applaud their commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance, a part of me is nervous. See, I’m one of those guys who still gets a thrill from the raw, unadulterated roar of a naturally aspirated V8.
The rumors are pointing to a 4.4-liter plug-in hybrid V8, borrowed from the XM Label Red SUV but tweaked to deliver ‘just’ 718 horsepower. Now, I know that’s not exactly slow – it’s a bump of over 100 horses compared to the previous M5 CS! But those extra horses come with a cost: weight.
They say the new M5 will tip the scales at around 2435 kg, which is a significant jump. Part of me worries that all that extra weight will dull the driving experience, make the car feel less nimble, less like a true M car.
Then again, there’s that other part of me, the one that can’t wait to feel the instant torque of that electric motor, to experience the brutal acceleration that only a hybrid powertrain can deliver.
Adding to the excitement is the news that the M5 Touring wagon will be making a comeback, and for the first time, it’ll grace American shores. Now, imagine this beast of a wagon, loaded up with camping gear, the whole family on board, and that V8 hybrid symphony blasting from the exhaust. That’s a road trip I wouldn’t mind taking.
It’s a thrilling time to be a BMW fan, especially for those of us who dream of M cars. The new M5 is shaping up to be a technological marvel, a testament to BMW’s engineering prowess. I, for one, can’t wait to see it in the flesh, to hear that hybrid V8 roar, and to feel the surge of power as it rockets towards the horizon. But I’ll admit, a tiny part of me will be listening closely, hoping to hear a faint echo of that classic, naturally aspirated V8 growl amidst the symphony of future tech.