For the majority, the base BMW M5 is more than adequate. It is a breathtaking blend of luxury and performance in an adult-size car, with 600 horsepower from a twin-turbo V-8, a 2.8-second 0-to-60 time, and a top speed computer-limited to 155 mph.
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Using the Autobahn, the BMW M5 Competition plows along at 193 mph.
When there isn’t enough room in the garage for both a family car and a supercar, what can be done? With the M5, BMW addresses this issue of the first order. At its foundation, it’s still an opulent and useful 5 Series, but the sportiness has been turned up a level. This is particularly true for the Competition variant with the M Driver’s Package.
The M5C has 617 horsepower overall, an increase of 17 horsepower over the normal model, so it has plenty of power. The normal M5 still has a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), but you can loosen the limitation to 190 mph (305 km/h). That person who ordered this LCI model before AutoTopNL drove it down the Autobahn experienced the same thing.
The 2022 M5 Competition reached 193 mph (310 km/h) on a stretch of the German motorway without speed limits. Modern speedometers frequently display a higher speed than the actual velocity, as you are all aware. Actually, the electronic top speed limiter was activated by the super sedan. Yes, even the higher 190 mph claimed is still controlled electronically.
BMW M5 CS’s incredible 2.6-second sprint to 60 mph in a Car & Driver test
Another significant North American newspaper has published an impressive acceleration time for a M vehicle, after Motor Trend’s testing of the BMW M3 Competition xDrive at 2.98 seconds for the 0-60 mph sprint. For its upcoming January 2022 issue, Car and Driver has examined the M5 CS, and yeah, you might want to settle in for this one. A speed of 60 mph was reached by the super car in under 2.6 seconds.
How does the performance compare to the stated 0-60 time from BMW? Although there has been a noticeable gain of 0.3 seconds, the difference is not as big as you might initially think. You see, starting with the December 2019 edition, C&D changed its testing process to incorporate a one-foot rollout before the timer actually starts ticking. It did this in an effort to mimic drag strip techniques. The testing apparatus had previously began taking measurements at 3 mph.
We were able to complete a 2.81-second run from a standstill in our own acceleration test from August (linked below). Even without accounting for the one-foot rollout, we’d assume that C&D’s attempt was still slightly superior. Nevertheless unimpressed It kept gaining speed and finished the quarter-mile at a trap speed of 130 mph (209 km/h) in 10.6 seconds as opposed to our 10.8 seconds.
The test vehicle was equipped with Pirelli P Zero Corsa (PZC4) tires, which are a free upgrade when purchasing the M5 CS, which starts at $142,000. Recall that BMW will only sell the boosted car for one model year before it is discontinued. That makes sense given that earlier M vehicles with the CS emblem were also a limited production.
It only makes sense to contrast the M5 CS with the M5 Competition, which C&D evaluated last year and which completed the 0-60 mph run in 2.8 seconds before reaching a quarter-mile speed of 10.9 seconds (206 km/h). The special-edition Bimmer had a greater trap speed and reduced the sprint time by two tenths of a second. An additional 10 horsepower and a 147-pound (67-kilogram) diet are responsible for the improvements.
These performance stats were once reserved for supercars, and the M5 CS is a midsize four-door luxury sedan weighing a substantial 4,096 lbs (1,858 kg), yet it accelerates like a rocket.
More evidence that the M5 is BMW’s best vehicle.
Have you ever fantasized about speeding down the fabled Autobahn in a German sports sedan? It’s a fantasy that many aficionados have, but only a select few get to experience. We are fortunate that AutoTopNL recorded a 193 mph run in a 2021 BMW M5 Competition so that we can all experience this amazing moment together.
One of the most powerful BMWs ever produced, the 2021 BMW M5 Competition blends decades of engineering expertise in sports sedans with a tremendously powerful engine. A twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque powers the 2021 BMW M5 Competition.
An eight-speed automatic transmission transfers power to an all-wheel-drive system, which drives all four wheels. The M5 Competition’s engine is great, but the transmission and all-wheel drive system raise the bar for performance. The acceleration statistics are astounding; 0 to 60 mph can be reached in just 3.0 secs, and 0 to 100 mph can be reached in just 6.8. BMW claims that the M5 Competition’s highest speed is only 189 mph, but as we can see today, this is more of a guideline than a strict cap.
The BMW M5 is a powerful performance vehicle, no doubt, but part of what makes this storied sports sedan so special is its versatility. The BMW M5 is a kind of ultra-rich car enthusiast’s Golf GTI. This high-tech luxury vehicle has two driving modes: a comfort mode that provides a smooth, silent ride, or a rear-wheel-drive mode that allows for dramatic drifts.
That’s the BMW M5’s real magic. There are many fast cars, but the real magic of the BMW M5 lies in its ability to blend supercar levels of performance with the usefulness of a sedan.
The BMW M5’s aesthetic appeal
The BWW M5 can accelerate from a standstill to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in just 3.4 seconds because to its powerful engine. Not bad for a vehicle with five seats and room for two months’ worth of groceries in the trunk. Not at all awful.
In comparison to its top three competitors, the Mercedes-AMG E63, Audi RS7, and Cadillac CTS-V, the M5 is ranked second-fastest. The performance of the Bavarian brand is not significantly hampered by the fact that it is not as light as the Mercedes or the Cadillac, despite the little weight differential.
Last but not least, the M5 sports an impressive max speed of 190 mph (306 kph). Again, in compared to the three rivals, it outperforms the Mercedes (186 mph), is on par with the Audi, but falls short of the Cadillac (200 mph). But hold on, it is just on paper.
You can see that the M5 can hit 194 mph in the video up there (313 kph). With that, its lone rival for the title of world’s fastest super sedan is its American cousin.
How quickly can the M5 accelerate from a stop to its highest speed? To learn more, view the video. Clue: It took less than a minute and seemed quite simple for the M5.
Can the extremely quick BMW M5 CS handle the McLaren 720S Spider?
The 2022 M5 CS, according to BMW, is the most potent production vehicle ever. You only need to look at the specifications to see why the German super executive vehicle can race from 0 to 60 mph (0-96 kph) in under 3 seconds.
In reality, it travels there in 2.9 seconds, which is two tenths of a second faster than the M5 Competition. The twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine, which is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-biased all-wheel drive system and modified by the M Division, produces 626 horsepower (635 ps / 467 kW) and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque, and has a top speed of 190 mph (306 kph).
The BMW M5 CS is a true four-door supercar with space for five passengers and a sizable trunk. But can it genuinely compete with a supercomputer?
Enter the McLaren 720S Spider, with its 568 lb-ft of torque and 710 horsepower (720 ps/530 kW) (770 Nm). Similar to other models, it has a twin-turbo V8 engine with a 4.0-liter displacement that pairs with a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission to send power to the rear wheels.
Theoretically, the M5 CS is just a little bit slower than the 720S Spider because it takes that car 2.9 seconds to reach 62 mph (96–100 kph), not 60. According to McLaren, it can sprint from zero to 124 mph (0-200 kph) in 7.9 seconds, with a top speed of 212 mph (341 kph).
The 720S, among other things, is, however, well known to everyone and their granny. Previous dyno tests have shown that the British supercar is actually more powerful than claimed, which is why it was able to defeat many extremely fast vehicles in a quarter-mile sprint. This time, the open-top model will be competing against the M5 CS after a rolling start, so now would be a good time to cast your wager.
M5 in the Middle-Child
You cannot imagine a sports sedan without picturing the BMW M5. The M5 lineage has evolved from employing straight-sixes to V8s and V10s to back to V8s once more, albeit twin-turbocharged ones presently. It is arguably the most well-known and iconic of the fast four-doors. However, there are several 5 Series sedans that have been M-ified than the M5. The M5 Competition, the trim BMW lent me, and the top-tier M5 CS are included in the hierarchy after that. That M5 boasts rear bucket seats, 627 horsepower, lighter weights and stiffer materials throughout. Why? I’m not sure. The M5 Competition is your Goldilocks happy medium in this regard.
Even so, the M5 Comp’s performance figures speak for themselves: 617 horsepower, 553 pound-feet of torque, a 3.1-second projected zero to 60 time, and an electronically limited top speed of 190 mph with the optional M Driver’s Package (otherwise, it’s “only” 155 mph). The M5 Competition offers 10 percent firmer front and rear springs, a tighter anti-roll bar, and a suspension height that is 0.2 inches lower than the standard M5 in terms of handling.
What is the cost of all this quick goodness? A $7,600 price increase over the normal M5, which already starts at $104,4950, results in a $112,095 sticker price. Extra strength, costlier, and with more power. Before you even begin to add options, that is.
Every vehicle I’ve driven that has been put through a performance torture test has generally been terrible. I immediately think of the Ford Focus RS, which was so aggressively tuned that it was no longer a useful hatchback. Hatchbacks need to be useful! The Ram 1500 TRX, on the other hand, is like cruising in a Hellcat-powered office building. The BMW M8 Competition Convertible, the M5’s relative that was more entertaining while parked, comes in last.
With all of that in mind, I anticipated the M5 Comp to be yet another overpowered, jumbled-up German cyborg that was more powerful than necessary. It wasn’t, much to my amazement. Yes, it still has far more power than you’ll ever need for driving, and that power is only available for a fraction of a second before you end up in jail or cause an accident. In spite of this, and despite the fact that it could keep up with Ferraris and Porsches, BMW understood when to compromise between jaw-dropping performance and regular drivability.
The Finding
In just 3.1 seconds, the 2021 BMW M5 Competition can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. There is no denying that the super sedan from BMW is a fast vehicle.
You know how the M5 feels, though, when you’re behind the wheel? It resembles the quickest, prettiest, and most costly Honda Accord in the planet. I also mean that in the kindest possible terms, despite the fact that it might sound slight. The Accord is great. The Accord is a fantastic vehicle. Lots of these are sold by Honda. It drives comfortably in all circumstances, seems agile for its size and genre, and has a respectable appearance. It is also a family car for grownups. However, it’s not the kind of car that kids fantasize about and hang images of on their bedroom walls.
And that’s okay in the case of the Accord. That car wasn’t intended for it. If taken at face value, the M5 serves the upper class in the same capacity. It appears to have been designed for the mid-level executive to lazily cruise around in peaceful luxury and, when he or she is in the mood for it, Autobahn-crushing speed. Even if there is nothing fundamentally wrong with a car like that, especially in terms of BMW’s financial health, I’m not sure I would still classify it as an enthusiast’s vehicle.
Briefly said, the BMW M5 Competition is a tool—a sensationally capable, finely constructed tool—but it is still a tool. Perhaps where the Competition fails, the M5 CS succeeds, but that will be the subject of another examination.