Photo: BMW
Talk about a possible all-wheel-drive BMW M5 has been going around for quite a while now. We remember last year we caught wind of such a possibility when BMW M division’s CEO, Friedrich Nitschke said that the company is looking into it.
Back then, the official was quoted talking about the upcoming model, that seemed to be hundreds of years away and nobody really gave the rumors a second thought. Today though, things seem to be going in a completely different direction.
That’s because BMW just launched the first M cars that weigh less than their predecessors and the results are impressive. Judging by the first reviews, the lighter construction and its advantages can be felt throughout and they are a huge plus, even though, on paper, they don’t seem as impressive.
The M3, for example, is 80 kg (176 lbs) lighter than its Sedan predecessor while the M4 is 45 kg (100 lbs) lighter than the E92 M3. Those might not sound like much but they do their job right.
Seeing as the media is welcoming this new measure with an open heart, BMW officials talked about future M models at the press launch held in Portugal. And what upcoming M car is more important than the M5?
Therefore, everyone wanted a little inside info on the new model. Of course, Dr. Nietschke kept it all hush hush, just teasing us with some hints but we got the message loud and clear: the upcoming models will be lighter while also packing more power and, possibly, even all-wheel-drive.
That’s right, an xDrive M5 is possible. Sure, pitchforks and torches were lit on various Bimmer forums on the internet but that’s just because of the wide gap between different opinions but they should all listen carefully to each other, as each camp’s arguments make sense.
First of all, going AWD will make the M5 stand out less in the crowd, compared to its rivals. What else will be there to make it special, when pitted against the likings of an E63 AMG or an RS6/RS7? Not that much.
Others pointed out that an entire philosophy will be dropped and that the rear-wheel-drive enjoyment will simply vanish from the Bavarian marque, together with the new front-wheel-drive models. However, we need to point some things out here.
First of all, we live in the 21st century. The new model will probably have an engine very much the same as the one fitted to the new anniversary 30 Jahre M5 that makes 600 HP and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. That amount of power is extremely hard to put down with only the rear wheels. From this point of view, AWD becomes not only necessary but mandatory.
Second: everyone is being quoted as saying the xDrive models will be OPTIONAL. That means nobody will force you to get one unless you want the added performance in a straight line. Purists can now rest assured that the M division hasn’t forgotten about them. The same division is also the only one that still offers a manual gearbox in this segment.
Third: as we found from out test drives, xDrive can be even more fun than rear-wheel-drive models. Take the M135i xDrive and the M235i, for example. The underpinnings of the two are basically the same, with the same engine and the same transmission. What made the difference though, was xDrive that transformed the 1er into the more composed and agile car. We actually like it more.
And that’s not only because part of the power that goes up front but also because of the way it does it. xDrive can send up to 100 percent of the power to the rear wheels which gives you a feeling like nothing else on the market at the moment. 4Matic and quattro don’t come close in terms of pure feel.
So, what’s the problem after all? If there’s going to be an all-wheel-drive M5, it won’t be imposed, it will have more performance and it will be great to drive. If you don’t want it, get the RWD version and you should be more than satisfied with your choice. Don’t come back crying when an AMG makes you cry at a stoplight, though.
That’s because BMW just launched the first M cars that weigh less than their predecessors and the results are impressive. Judging by the first reviews, the lighter construction and its advantages can be felt throughout and they are a huge plus, even though, on paper, they don’t seem as impressive.
The M3, for example, is 80 kg (176 lbs) lighter than its Sedan predecessor while the M4 is 45 kg (100 lbs) lighter than the E92 M3. Those might not sound like much but they do their job right.
Seeing as the media is welcoming this new measure with an open heart, BMW officials talked about future M models at the press launch held in Portugal. And what upcoming M car is more important than the M5?
Therefore, everyone wanted a little inside info on the new model. Of course, Dr. Nietschke kept it all hush hush, just teasing us with some hints but we got the message loud and clear: the upcoming models will be lighter while also packing more power and, possibly, even all-wheel-drive.
That’s right, an xDrive M5 is possible. Sure, pitchforks and torches were lit on various Bimmer forums on the internet but that’s just because of the wide gap between different opinions but they should all listen carefully to each other, as each camp’s arguments make sense.
First of all, going AWD will make the M5 stand out less in the crowd, compared to its rivals. What else will be there to make it special, when pitted against the likings of an E63 AMG or an RS6/RS7? Not that much.
Others pointed out that an entire philosophy will be dropped and that the rear-wheel-drive enjoyment will simply vanish from the Bavarian marque, together with the new front-wheel-drive models. However, we need to point some things out here.
First of all, we live in the 21st century. The new model will probably have an engine very much the same as the one fitted to the new anniversary 30 Jahre M5 that makes 600 HP and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. That amount of power is extremely hard to put down with only the rear wheels. From this point of view, AWD becomes not only necessary but mandatory.
Second: everyone is being quoted as saying the xDrive models will be OPTIONAL. That means nobody will force you to get one unless you want the added performance in a straight line. Purists can now rest assured that the M division hasn’t forgotten about them. The same division is also the only one that still offers a manual gearbox in this segment.
Third: as we found from out test drives, xDrive can be even more fun than rear-wheel-drive models. Take the M135i xDrive and the M235i, for example. The underpinnings of the two are basically the same, with the same engine and the same transmission. What made the difference though, was xDrive that transformed the 1er into the more composed and agile car. We actually like it more.
And that’s not only because part of the power that goes up front but also because of the way it does it. xDrive can send up to 100 percent of the power to the rear wheels which gives you a feeling like nothing else on the market at the moment. 4Matic and quattro don’t come close in terms of pure feel.
So, what’s the problem after all? If there’s going to be an all-wheel-drive M5, it won’t be imposed, it will have more performance and it will be great to drive. If you don’t want it, get the RWD version and you should be more than satisfied with your choice. Don’t come back crying when an AMG makes you cry at a stoplight, though.
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