This spy video from the Nurburgring is full of good stuff. You've got a bunch of BMW performance SUVs, the F-Pace Jag with some kind of new engine and the next M5 super-saloon.
BMW is not taking any chances with this car. Given all the competition coming from the Mercedes-AMG E63 and the Porsche Panamera, the next M5 needs to get everything right. That's more than we can say about the current generation, the F10.
Rumors suggest the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 will continue to be used, not only by the M5 but also by the 550i. However, we find the aural experience to be a little bit more pleasing than before.
Surely, the mighty M car will feature sports exhaust with butterfly valves that open up. Even something as cheap as the Audi S3 has them. And in the slower shots taken around the track, you can see two of the exhaust pipes are a lot dirtier than the others, meaning they are used more.
So far, no horsepower figures have been leaked for the new M5. But somewhere between 600 and 620 PS sounds like the safest bet since the Audi RS6 just had a bump to 605 ponies. Why are we mentioning the quattro wagon? Because the BMW engineers have finally realized, you can't use monster engines without installing AWD.
Weight is always going to be an issue, and we are certainly not looking at the 4-door version of a Caterham. However, though extensive use of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic technology (developed for the i cars), the kilos will be kept in check. More weight could be shed with options like a carbon roof, trunk or ceramic brakes.
However, once you do install those features, the price of the M5 will surely creep over €150,000. Not that this will be much of a problem. There are millions of fans all over the world and thousands of people who will buy the first AWD M sedan even without driving it.
Rumors suggest the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 will continue to be used, not only by the M5 but also by the 550i. However, we find the aural experience to be a little bit more pleasing than before.
Surely, the mighty M car will feature sports exhaust with butterfly valves that open up. Even something as cheap as the Audi S3 has them. And in the slower shots taken around the track, you can see two of the exhaust pipes are a lot dirtier than the others, meaning they are used more.
So far, no horsepower figures have been leaked for the new M5. But somewhere between 600 and 620 PS sounds like the safest bet since the Audi RS6 just had a bump to 605 ponies. Why are we mentioning the quattro wagon? Because the BMW engineers have finally realized, you can't use monster engines without installing AWD.
Weight is always going to be an issue, and we are certainly not looking at the 4-door version of a Caterham. However, though extensive use of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic technology (developed for the i cars), the kilos will be kept in check. More weight could be shed with options like a carbon roof, trunk or ceramic brakes.
However, once you do install those features, the price of the M5 will surely creep over €150,000. Not that this will be much of a problem. There are millions of fans all over the world and thousands of people who will buy the first AWD M sedan even without driving it.