The fastest I’ve ever driven is about 130mph in an E39S M5 with its 5.0-liter V8 and 6-speed manual. Good times, indeed.
Flash ahead nearly 20 years and BMW has readied this all-new 6th gen model, the performance pinnacle of the 5 Series lineup. Available next spring, this 2018 M5 debuts a new M-specific all-wheel drive system called M xDrive.
When the engine is first started, the M5 is a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The driver is then able to vary the handling characteristics via selectable drive modes including a rear-wheel-drive mode with no Dynamic Stability Control for a traditional rear-wheel drive experience. But with 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, you’ll want 4-wheel traction to transfer all of that might to the road.
The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 teams with a new 8-speed automatic transmission to deliver blistering acceleration. 0-to-60mph takes only 3.2 seconds. When equipped with the M Driver’s package, top speed is 189mph. The sound it produces varies depending on the selected driving mode while the M Sound Control button allows further customization.
Individual driver needs are met by the wide range of options for configuring the vehicle, including M xDrive, the 8-speed M Steptronic with Drivelogic, the M-specific Variable Damper Control with electronically controlled shock absorbers, and M Servotronic steering.
Virtually all of the driving dynamic systems can be configured using the central touchscreen display, buttons on the center console or M sports steering wheel, and the central information display offers BMW Gesture control. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.
CHECK OUT 2017 BMW 540i VIDEO REVIEW BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES
SEE MORE OF STEVE’S REVIEWS ON TESTDRIVENOW’S YOU TUBE CHANNEL
Additional Auto Reviews by TestDriveNow[/vc_message]
