We were recently in Portugal to test the brand-new F90-generation BMW M5, the fastest accelerating BMW of all time. However, we can’t yet tell you what it’s like, as there’s an embargo on driving impressions. That goes for every journalist that drove the M5 as well, so no one is allowed to release what they actually thought of driving the new M5. Though, that doesn’t mean we can’t take a look at the M5 and how much fun it was to drive in Portugal. Which is exactly what Carwow did in this recent video.
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In this new video, we get Carwow’s first look of the new M5. So we’re taken on a walk-around of the new M5, where we get to see a lot of the car’s exterior and interior features and differences from the standard 5 Series. The interior is the biggest change, where it features all-new sport seats that look superb. It also gets some new trim, a new shift lever and some red switches on the steering wheel. The latter of which are to select the pre-programmable “M” driving modes.
We also get a look at the new BMW M5 Safety Car, which looks pretty cool. Most of its add-ons are available through M Performance Parts, as well, so you can make your M5 looks pretty close to the Safety Car version. Just without the light bar and siren, of course.
After the walk-around, Carwow’s Matt Watson takes the new BMW M5 on the track and does many, many slides. It looks effortless to slide the new M5. While he couldn’t actually talk about the driving dynamics or performance, he could just show it drifting. We don’t know if he was in “4WD Sport” or “2WD” mode but, either way, the M5 knows how to slide and it looks like a blast. Then, something bad happened. Following all of the slides, Watson is seen standing outside of the car while BMW techs take a look at it. He claims that it was in a bit worse condition after he drove it.
It should be interesting to see Carwow’s actual driving impressions and what ended up happening to the car.
For all intents and purposes, it just looks like a slightly larger 3er… Meh.
…and pretty ancient.
To be honest, i am in no hurry to go through M5’s reviews. Even if it turns out to be spectacular ride, which would be a surprise considering how average BMW’s (and even M division) driving dynamics have been recently, i wouldn’t want to be seen with one. Its just that plain, austere, and jaded.
The depression era of BMW continues..
With that car, it’s all abut the xDrive. You’ll see.
Thanks for revert, Horatiu.
If i am allowed to read between the lines here then what i understood is that its gonna be a riot drive.
However, i ll be honest that G30 (and G11/12) never really churned my stomach for any right reason and i firmly feel that they have punched below their weights. Its just my personal opinion.
And trust me, i too am waiting for them to go back to their roots. :)
gonna be waiting a long time.
not sure why people think they are going to get “back to their roots”. what does that exactly mean?
If you are referring to hydraulic steering, big engines, less driving-assist features…then i’m not sure you should be looking at car enthusiast pages since apparently you aren’t looking at what EVERY other car manufacturer is doing.
It’s still 50/50, loads of power, track-ready suspension, m-driving modes…that hasn’t changed.
So what is it exactly you have an issue with?
The dilution that BMW’s products have suffered are extreme.
I do understand that Hydraulic Engg. and other wonders of yesteryear’s won’t make the cut in current times. But we should also realize that all automakers are facing this issue. However, the likes of Porsche, Jaguar, Cadillac and even Mazda have found a way around it and are still able to inject the driving passion to their cars. Heck, even Audi and Merc have shed their traditional images become sportier by the passage of time and are closer to BMW experience more than ever.
The exact issue here is that unlike other Auto OEMs, BMW hasn’t been able to find a way. While other refined their driving experience, BMW diluted it. To top that they were napping when car design progress was most intense, atleast in case of sedans.
Even with 50/50, loads of power, track ready suspension, and zillions of drive mode options available, BMW has principally failed to struck the right chord at the right places. Can you imagine it took them almost 5 year to get current M3/M4 sorted. The revered M division, the very epitome of sheer driving pleasure isn’t able to get things properly.
And guess what, the days of sports luxury car are far from over. The world over, almost all the brands, those who can actually afford, are trying to set up its performance division so that they can take on these german stalwarts at their own game. And our very own beloved BMW, the one who started it all is the first to quitting this game. How funny and ironic it is that when everybody wants to ape BMW’s qualities, BMW decided to shed it without a fight.
So i hope you understand what exactly is the issue going on with BMW. Not for nothing are most auto enthusiasts lamenting the current strategy of BMW.
Most auto buyers are not auto enthusiasts, the latter are not a viable market for growth. Why do you think Hondas are bigger than ever? Lamenting their successful strategy, and BMW’s, is like missing the 20th century. Or Obama. Feel free to live in the past. Any manufacturer that does so will not survive into the future. The manufacturers you list above have all survived bankruptcy or are sheltered by larger corporations. Only BMW are prospering independently.
I give them enough praise where its due. You should probably look into entire picture before commenting that i am here to bury them.
And secondly, you statement above itself is a kind of an admission that BMW aren’t into making vehicles for driving pleasure.
What do you think passenger seats are for?
Trunks?
Crossovers?
Hatchbacks?
They carry people.
Things.
Full model range manufacturer, not all about driving.
“The depression era of BMW” is record sales, margins & expansion. I really have to stop surfing.
Every other manufacturer is claiming record sales, margins and expansions. the whole market is ballooning so there is more than enough space for almost everyone to coexist.
You can decide whether to continue to surf or not but you can definitely stop commenting.
My statement strictly tells about how BMW has fallen from grace from qualitative point of view. Why does it need to have counter arguments in terms of sales justifications? And as it is you want to debate about sales, Audi sells more than twice the figures of BMW in China. In most European countries, BMW is already on a distant 3rd place behind Merc & Audi. In USA, BMW doesn’t seem to be able to come close to Merc at all.
This shows that most others are reaping more benefit in terms of sales just by making progressive strategies.
BMW are expanding 2 factories, building 2 new ones, increasing volume 50%.. How many other manufacturers in your balloon market can say the same?! You selectively edit & misrepresent to support your false thesis. Obviously I should just stop reading b.s.
M cars aside, their run of the mill models did not drive as they should be coming from BMW so there’s some truth in it
Typical BMW poor reliability. Just drive it on an even surface and it breaks down like a toy. I can imagine what would happen, if Matt drove it on a slightly poor road. Simply pathetic. BMW and reliability? These terms are on opposite poles. Reliability is Mercedes-Benz.
i am sorry but if reliability is the only thing under consideration then i would look towards far eastern brands. None of the germans can match the reliability of theirs.
Mercedes-Benz is the most reliable car maker among German brands. Buy it and enjoy. Want to buy a BMW? Then be prepared to empty your wallet on that silly and useless car. Just hit a small pothole i a BMW, and you’re done with entire suspension.
I have to somewhat agree with their reliability issues. My car has been constantly showing drivetrain codes and the dealer has yet to discover what is causing it and I’ve been spending some considerable of time waiting for my car to be diagnosed when I could be doing something else.