2012 BMW M5 Breaks Cover, Official Details Released

Details concerning the long-awaited next-generation 2012 BMW M5 were released this week, revealing that the German automaker’s lauded super sports sedan will push past the performance limits of the previous model. This will allow the 2012 BMW M5 to once again challenge vehicles like the Cadillac CTS-V and the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG for the title of world’s fastest mid-size sedan.

The 2012 BMW M5 will for the very first time feature a turbocharged engine under the hood. The twin-turbo, 4.4-liter eight-cylinder mill replaces the older BMW M5’s V10, and despite offering two fewer cylinders the motor puts out an additional 60 horsepower, coming in at 560 ponies in total. Also capable of generating 502 lb-ft of torque, the twin-turbo V-8 is able to launch the hefty BMW M5 to 60 miles per hour from a standing start in just 4.4-seconds, making it one of the quickest four-door automobiles on the planet. The 2012 BMW M5 tops out at an electronically-limited top speed of 155-mph, a figure which can be bumped up to a white-knuckle 190-mph if the optional M Driver’s Package option is selected.

Helping to corral all of the new BMW M5’s sound and fury is a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission, which features a launch control mode and shift paddles mounted on the vehicle’s steering wheel. Although rumors persist that the 2012 BMW M5 will not be offered with a traditional manual stick-shift –making it the first M5 generation to skip over this feature – reports that BMW M5 test mules featuring six-speed shift-it-yourself gearboxes have been sighted on the track seem to indicate that a standard tranny might eventually be in the cards. For those concerned about the fuel consumption of a 560 horsepower sports sedan, BMW has engineered in an automatic start / stop feature, along with a regenerative braking system.

The 2012 BMW M5 is designed to maintain the high level of handling prowess that has defined all versions of this vehicle. Despite its not insubstantial weight, the BMW M5 will undoubtedly succeed in sticking to the tarmac with impressive tenacity thanks to the combination of a finely-tuned chassis with BMW’s Dynamic Damper Control, an M Dynamic mode for the vehicle’s electronic stability control system, unique suspension geometry and hardware and the M Servotronic steering system. The car will also be introduced with an Active M Differential, which is an electronic limited-slip unit that works together with the vehicle’s DSC stability sensors in order to reduce wheel spin.

In addition to its gaudy performance figures, the 2012 BMW M5 also offers the same high level of luxury that BMW buyers expect from one of the company’s most popular sedans. The full BMW 5 Series features list is maintained, and the BMW M5’s interior accoutrements are augmented by a special leather-covered center console, Merino leather seats, a BMW Individual roof liner and a unique BMW M gauge cluster. The outside of the 2012 BMW M5 also cuts a more aggressive profile than the standard 5 Series, with flared fenders, M gills, 19-inch M alloy wheels, a rear lip spoiler and a front diffuser all part of the vehicle’s visual package. Tying the entire package together is a smorgasbord of electronic gizmos, driver’s aides and entertainment options, including a night vision system, a head-up display, adaptive HID headlights and internet access through the BMW ConnectedDrive system.

The 2012 BMW M5 is a controversial entry into the brand’s M history books, due to its forced induction engine which some purists feel dilutes the M car experience. Similar complaints were made, however, about the older BMW M5’s V-10 mill, and sales of that model did not slip as a result. The 2012 BMW M5 will certainly make for a compelling sports sedan option in an increasingly crowded segment of the luxury market.