BMW M5 News

BMW's M will electrify every model in its lineup by the end of the next decade, but has all-but ruled out introducing a pure EV in the short-term future.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has published its latest round of safety recalls, with models from Ford, Mazda, BMW, Kia, Audi, Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini affected.

BMW Australia has announced pricing for its savage M5 Competition super sedan, which will arrive in the second half of the year with uprated performance and dynamics priced from $229,000 plus on-roads

BMW Australia has fired off a warning shot to its rivals, announcing that the bahn-storming M5 will be priced sharply from $199,900 before on-road costs, in the second quarter of next year.

The sixth-generation BMW M5 has staked its claim for the title of best super-sedan in the world, with the latest M model featuring increased engine outputs.

BMW has detailed the selectable all-wheel drive (AWD) 'xDrive' system in its all-new forthcoming M5 performance sedan.

All the German prestige brands will tell you there is no power war between them. But if not outright war, there are at least some continual skirmishes -- not least between the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and its Bavarian counterpart, the BMW M5.When the Mercedes lifted its power to 430kW, BMW responded by upping the then-412kW to 423kW, with the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 also delivering a whamming 680Nm of torque (still outgunned by the E63's 800Nm), and a 0-100km/h time of 4.2 seconds, just 0.1 behind the Merc.Overseas BMW markets get those figures as an optional 'Competition Pack' upgrade. Lucky Australia gets them as standard, along with a host of suspension and steering enhancements that the carmakers says give it the handling edge.So what can you do with all that power, performance and dynamic ability? Let it off the chain in a bullring, according to this BMW footage. We see the M5 trucked into a remote location and locked into the ring to snort and blaze its way through a few doughnuts -- oddly with just a couple of security guards as the target audience.Of course, you can't keep a wild animal caged, so the M5 busts out and assumes its more mild-mannered executive conveyance disguise, cruising off most likely heading back to its natural habitat of leafy suburbs and cafe strips.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincottWatch the BMW M5 video on our desktop site. 

Photos of a slightly updated BMW M5 due on the market later this year have surfaced early, thanks to the inadvertent launch of the car’s configurator on BMW’s German website. The images were scooped by enthusiast website BimmerToday and have also appeared on WorldCarFans, however, BMW has since removed the configurator from its website. Our own spy shots of prototypes previously confirmed that an updated M5 was in the works, but now, thanks to these images, we can look past the camouflage gear. They show only minor updates to the car, which makes sense since the current ‘F10’ BMW M5 was launched on the market only last year. The changes consist of minor tweaks to the lights and a new grille that resembles the unit on the M6. Changes in the cabin are also barely noticeable, though we can see a slightly thinner steering wheel and what appears to be a new touch-pad integrated with the iDrive controller. Under the hood, BMW is expected to offer a new Competition Package for its updated M5 to better align the car’s performance with more powerful rivals such as the Audi RS 6/RS 7 and recently updated 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. The M5’s new Competition Package is expected to bump output from the car's twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V-8 to around 429 kilowatts. The standard power rating, however, will likely remain at 418 kilowatts. Now that images of the updated M5 have already hit BMW’s website, the official reveal should be taking place soon. We’re expecting the first cars in showrooms in overseas markets mid-year, which means they’re likely to list as 2014 models. www.motorauthority.com  

With the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG now offering as much as 430kW in ‘S-Model’ trim, the 412kW of the BMW M5 is starting to look a little feeble, at least in terms of bragging rights (we doubt most owners would be able to tell the difference). To rectify the issue, BMW is planning an upgrade for the M5, which Car and Driver is reporting will boost output to 423kW. The upgrade will likely arrive as a Competition Package and is said to be developed for both the M5 and M6. Being part of a Competition Package, expect a host of other upgrades including new wheels, brakes and tires. Revised suspension and a number of minor aero tweaks are also likely. Cars fitted with the Competition Package are expected to deliver 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) times around 0.1 of a second quicker than those with the current 412kW rating. This could mean 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds for local models. For those at home counting, that’s still 0.6s behind the new all-wheel-drive E 63 AMG S-Model available in left-hand drive markets. Look for the M5 and M6 Competition Package to be offered overseas by the mid-year, while the option is yet to be confirmed for Australian models. "We would absolutely be interested if such a package proves suitable for our market, but cannot confirm any M5 or M6 performance boosts at this stage", BMW Australia's Corporate Communications boss Lenore Fletcher said. "Australia has the highest per-capita takeup rate of BMW performance variants in the world." Ms Fletcher suggested the package could join the range when the M5 and M6 range is refreshed locally in the fourth quarter of this year.  Note, the power wars aren’t likely to end there. Audi’s RS 6/RS 7 duo is tipped to receive their own ‘Plus’ upgrades that could see output reach as much as  447kW. However, no official word of their release has been mentioned.  

The world record for drifting is currently 11.18km, set by Red Bull athlete Abdo Feghali at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina circuit on February 15.Feghali was helped by using an Easy Drift system -- a ring mount that slides over the rear tyres to reduce grip and replicate skid conditions. Once the Easy Drift wears away, the driver continues on the car's tyres.However BMW is already eyeing his record, and plans to male a bid to break it on May 11 -- claiming BMW Performance Driving Instructor Johan Schwartz will drift a BMW M5 for 65km or more. The teaser video shows him in practice and we'll be keen to see the official bid.