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- New dampers featuring Comfort, Sport and Sport +
- 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds
- Cosmetic changes
BMW's M5 receives the cosmetic upgrades seen on the regular 5 Series, and enhancements under the skin.
More importantly, it has new dampers that obviously feature modes for Comfort, Sport and Sport +. BMW says the dampers were developed with "experience gained" in developing the M8 Gran Coupe.
The engineers haven't fiddled with the 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 engine, it produces 441kW in 'normal' specification and 460kW in Competition form, the latter was the sole model on sale in South Africa.
Visual changes
First thing you'll notice on the updated M5 are the L-shaped LED daytime running light bars. The grille is set lower into the front apron and air intakes have grown in size.
Of course there are a plethora of M badges across the car. The rear features a restyled diffuser and there are three-dimensional LED rear lights, featuring the L-shape again.
Image: BMW Press
There are five new paint finishes: Brands Hatch Grey and Motegi Red metallic, as well as the Tanzanite Blue II metallic, Aventurine Red II metallic and matt Frozen Bluestone metallic.
There's also the option of fitting the 20-inch M double-spoke items in polished Orbit Grey from the M8.
Step inside and there's the new 31cm central display that BMW says provides a more driver-focused look.
There are two new buttons on the centre console – seen in the M8 – provide more direct access to system settings and the various readouts in the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display.
Pressing the M Mode button, the driver can switch between Road and Sport settings.
Image: BMW Press
As mentioned, the engine hasn't been altered and claimed power is 460kW and 750Nm in Competition form. As before, the engine's characteristics can be altered between three modes: efficient, sport and sport +.
All that power is channeled to all four wheels, and only the rear wheels via the variable all-wheel drive system. An eight-speed M Steptronic transmission does duty.
The pure rear-wheel drive setup is with dynamic stability control switched off.
The performance numbers of the M5 Competition are extraordinary, the Competition hits 100km/h from standstill in 3.3 seconds and 200km/h in 10.8 seconds.
The top speed is 250km/h or 305km/h with the optional M Driver's Package ticked. It has proper stopping power too, in the form of M Compound brakes,featuring perforated, inner-vented brake discs and six-piston fixed calipers.
Compiled by Sean Parker
Image: BMW Press
