2018 BMW M5 Returns To Form
Early road tests are in, and the 2018 BMW M5 might restore the iconic car’s performance legacy. Interestingly, the biggest factor might be the M5’s all-wheel drive, which might rub some M5 fans the wrong way, but bear with us.
The BMW M5 was long regarded as a “driver’s” car. Large, practical, four doors with a big boot, but offering a great driving experience. Indeed, the car was born when BMW took its M88 engine from its M1 supercars and dropped them into the E28 5 series. The M5 might have looked like a luxury sedan, but it had a performance that rivaled supercars.
Somewhere along the road, the M5 lost its way. The outgoing F10 M5 seemed to focus more on luxury than performance. With so many other luxury cars in BMW’s lineup, it was difficult to justify the F10 M5. Fortunately, the 2018 BMW M5 appears to be righting the ship.
So what makes the 2018 M5 so special? Let’s start with the 4.4 liters twin-turbo V-8 that cranks out 600 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, which might turn off fans of manual transmissions. However, with a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds, it’s hard to argue with the results.
As for all-wheel performance, early drives suggest that it’s fluid, aggressive, and playful. In other words, it’s a whole heck of a lot of fun to drive. If you prefer rear wheel driving, however, you can turn off the all-wheel drive. For many M5 drivers, this might be the preferred mode.
Regardless, the 2018 M5 is shaping up to be one of the better models in a long lauded series.
