High performance at €60,000 off – BMW’s M5 sees huge price drop and it’s thanks to hybrid version

THE price of a powerful new BMW has plunged €60,000 below the model it is replacing. The M5 performance saloon, on sale today, is now priced from €136,040 and buyers can expect delivery in November.

The price plunge is due to the fact that, for the first time, it is powered by a plug-in hybrid system.

That significantly lowers petrol consumption, which in-turn slashes VRT and consequently the sale price. If it was powered by an ordinary petrol engine it would be costing around €200,000.

The switch to plug-in has also sparked some other extraordinary figures. The new model now has a massive combined output of 727hp, 1,000 Nm of torque (pulling power) and can accelerate from 0-100kmh in 3.5 seconds.

The technical spec includes standard-fit Adaptive M suspension, integral active steering, and M xDrive.

Indeed, the inclusion of such tech systems would probably push the price above the €200,000 mark if it didn’t come with plug-in hybrid tech.

A car for the digital age, there is greater flexibility than ever to personalise the ‘driving experience’ – adjustable driving modes and performance settings to deal with most driving situations.

Prominent wheel arches, side skirt extensions and M design elements give a clue to its sporty nature.

In the cockpit, the latest technology includes the brand’s curved display and 8.5 operating system.

The M5 is now 40 years on the go and this is its seventh generation model, but there has never been an electric drive element before.

It consumes a near-impossible 1.33-litres per 100km, depending on model and wheels, and has a combined emission total of 39g/km-37g/km.

For a big performance saloon, that is a phenomenal level of CO2 emissions and keeps the price down.

The combination of a V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology, an electric motor and power transferred through an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission, as well as M xDrive all-wheel drive, lets this powerhouse accelerate from 0-100 kmh in 3.5 seconds.

BMW say they have tuned the M hybrid system, power transmission and chassis technology to give the M5 dynamics that are unparalleled in the market segment.

The car will make its debut appearance/world premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month.

With deliveries from November the saloon will also be accompanied by the introduction of the new M5 Touring (estate). The combination of combustion engine and electric motor work on the same principle as the drive system in the BMW M Hybrid V8 endurance racing machine.

The engine can spin to a maximum 7,200 rpm. Top speed is limited to 249kmh as standard, but the limiter can be raised to 305kmh if you order the optional M Driver’s Package.

BMW have tuned the sports exhaust system to its own distinctive note with electrically controlled, continuously adjustable flaps and two pairs of dual tailpipes.

Operating in all-electric mode, the M5 can reach up to 140km. The high-voltage battery fits in low within the underbody and has 18.6 kWh of usable energy. That’s enough to cover a claimed electric range of 67-69km (depending on spec).

Meanwhile, the Combined Charging Unit allows AC charging at up to 7.4 kW. That will go up to 11 kW for cars made from November.

The all-wheel-drive M xDrive system has a rear-biased setup and you can select 2WD mode. Also standard are an Adaptive M suspension, electronically controlled dampers and integral active steering, which can steer the rear wheels by up to 1.5 degrees.

There is quite a selection of standard and optional systems for automated driving and parking.

Included are lane return with steering assistance, Evasion Assistant and the Speed Limit Info system. Options include Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go. The control panel on the centre console has a number of key buttons. The Setup, for example, gives you direct access to how the drive system is configured: Drivelogic, chassis, steering, braking system and M xDrive. Another button allows you to select M Mode.

The M Hybrid button lets you choose between Hybrid mode and the Electric setting.

Also standard is Merino leather while cabin comforts and ambience include the Interaction Bar, 4-zone air con, heated front seats, panoramic glass sunroof, Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, wireless charging tray, Comfort Access, an alarm system, automatic tailgate operation and the charging cable Professional for boosting the battery on longer journeys.

All for €60,000 less than it might have been.

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