2011 BMW M5 Preview

The M5’s current 500-hp V10 has always been the black sheep of the BMW powertrain family. BMW is known for its turbocharged inline-six-cylinder and V8 engines, but not for massive and bizarre V10s. Sources have now confirmed that this will all change on the 2011 BMW M5. A complete under-the-hood overhaul is planned for the 2011 M5 that should make drivers happy. The 2011 BMW M5 will go on sale in early 2011. Read on for our preliminary car review of the 2011 BMW M5.

Specifications

Here are specs we know so far about the 2011 BMW M5:

• Pricing: the 2011 M5 should start at about $87,000 - $90,000 MSRP; no invoice data available
• Fuel economy: fuel economy car ratings may improve slightly with the lighter and more efficient V8 engine but will probably still harbor around a city/highway rating of 11/17 mpg.
• Engine: twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 540 horsepower
• Drivetrain: seven-speed sequential manual gearbox (SMG) will likely be the only transmission option for 2011
• Acceleration: acceleration will likely improve with the powertrain changes, so 0-60 mph times should be in the 4.5-second range
• Model lineup: the M5 is the only model available
• Car safety features: same safety features expected for 2011
• Suspension: fully-adjustable suspension
• Warranty: four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty; four years/unlimited mileage roadside assistance; free regularly scheduled maintenance for first four years

Exterior Features

Only a few low-quality spy photos of the 2011 BMW M5 are available as of this writing. In the photos, the 2011 M5 appears much bigger than previous models, more closely resembling the proportions of the large 7-Series. One preliminary auto review speculated that the 2011 BMW M5 might also follow the conservative styling cues of the 7-Series as well.

Interior Features

We have no information on the interior of the 2011 M5 at this time. We can only speculate that the cabin may be roomier than in previous models because of the M5’s larger size.

Performance

Although we won’t know until the official road test, it’s a safe bet that the 2011 BMW M5’s handling and performance will delight enthusiasts. The car will gain almost 50 additional ponies with the twin-turbo V8 engine, which will result in a more torque-filled, lower-revving drive. Braking performance is likely to stay the same, however. The only possible disappointment with the 2011 M5 is that rumor has it BMW will only offer the automatic transmission with the new model, eliminating the popular six-speed manual option.