BMW M5 Concept Unveiling

Do you remember when, as a kid, you saw this toy on a magazine which you felt would be the one toy that would fill your dreams and be your best toy ever? Then you would head down to the toy store and see the plaything in question and it totally blew your mind to a point where you had to get your hands on it for your life to have a meaning. With this toy you’d be top of the class; with this toy all the other kids would look up to you; with this toy you’d be the King of the Playground.

After many years, I’ve once again encountered such a toy. A big boy’s toy called the BMW M5 Concept, also referred to as F10.

Welcome to Munich Automobiles, the World’s first exclusive BMW M dealership for the second unveiling of the M5 Concept. As the guests streamed in, everyone’s gazes kept jumping to the mysterious car, dressed in black cloth. Even hidden, the car’s aura was palpable, and it seemed that under the cover was resting not a vehicle, but a monster. Here and there, members of Munich Automobiles and BMW Asia were torturing the guests by dropping hints about the car without revealing much at the same time. “The M5 has always been a very exciting model, with every generation breaking new barriers and setting new benchmarks. BMW always manages to show that there is always better with every new M5 that comes out. After the last generation, I couldn’t see what more could be done, but with the F10 they did it again” teased Neil Fiorentinos, the Managing Director of BMW Asia, with a twinkle of excitement in his eyes. That, unfortunately, did not help me deal with the waiting at all, and the M5 concept, protected by glass barriers, would not reveal anything. Getting close to it for a sneak peek under the cloth wasn’t an option, all there was left to do was to endure the torture of the BMW team and wait.

Finally, after an excruciating long time, Mr. Kugan Vyravanathan, Marketing Manager at Munich Automobiles, called for everyone’s attention. All discussions suddenly ceased and before the guests realized, they were all standing around the car, waiting. Mr. Joel Chang, Executive Director of Munich Automobiles then took the limelight to introduce the BMW M dealership, before passing the invitees’ attention to Mr. Neil Fiorentinos, Managing Director of BMW Asia, who explained the story behind the M5: Eberhard von Kuenheim, BMW’s board chairman, used to drive a turbocharged 7 series and he was a man with a reputation of having a heavy foot. His body guards and their 535, unfortunately, had a hard time keeping up with him, thus they asked BMW M to help them build a car that could follow their employer's 7 series, and even outperform it if possible. In answer to their desperate call, BMW M took the 5 series chassis and in a mere four weeks, the E28 M5 was born. Now, five generations later, the F10 is in its last stages of development and graced us with its presence in its concept state, on this particular evening.

Enough with history though, as Mr. Fiorentinos, with the help of Mr. Brian Watts, BMW M’s General Manager Sales and Marketing and M5 expert are about to unveil the F10.

The cloth slid off, revealing the muscular lines of the M5 concept and I have to say, even after seeing the official released pictures, I was not ready for the car to look this good. Pardon the cliché, but the F10 really looks fast even when static. From the wide air intakes, the curves on the hood that extend to the rear view mirrors and run along the car, the muscular yet subtle flared arches, to the quad exhaust, the M5 is spectacular in every way. Wearing gunmetal like a queen wears a crown, the F10 and its black five twin-spoke rims parading its big slotted and drilled brake discs looks monstrous yet classy, the perfect car for a businessman who likes to slip out of his office to enjoy a rewarding drive. Or one who just enjoys annihilating its competitors not only in business but also on the black top.

On the technical side, BMW M once again crafted a new chassis for the 5 series’ evil sister, and after a precise development and rigorous tests on the North Loop of the Nurburgring, we can expect the M5 to stick to the road like a leech, while its weight-saving, custom made brakes deliver constant yet durable stopping power, even after extended lapping sessions on one of the World's most demanding racetrack that is the 'ring.

As rumors go, this new version of the M5 will say goodbye to its predecessor's V10, and its engine bay will now be sporting a 4.4 litre V8 featuring M TwinPower Turbo Technology; the same power plant that gives life to the X5M and X6M, but with a more refined tune that should boast 550hp (or more?).

Faithful to the M spirit and its “no compromise” motto, this high-revving eight cylinder engine will give a constant power delivery along the power band all the while being more nature friendly with a 25% reduction of fuel consumption and emissions. Such prowess of more power for less fuel consumption is a great example of how technology trickles down from the race track to the road, as in the racing world a such a recipe is the key to a winning strategy that overpowers the competitors on the asphalt but also in the pits with a more powerful yet frugal engine that requires less fuel stops.

Transmission-wise, the F10 will drop the previous generation's unloved seven-speed SMG transmission and power will be delivered to the rear wheel through a seven-speed M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic that offers blazing fast gear shifts and precise gear selection. Of course, handling such power means a lot of work must be done on the rear axle for the car to be drivable, thus the new M5’s rear differential received its share of attention: the multi-plate lock system is now amazingly accurate and fast, making sure that wheel spin caused by different grip conditions such as wet road is not likely to occur on its watch, allowing the best vehicle stability and dynamics in any driving condition.

According to Mr. Brian Watts, the M5 (which he refers to as his baby) is about 90% production ready as of today, and still has extensive testing and development to go through before in car hit the roads, somewhere near August. I definitely look forward to that!

Thanks to all the team at BMW Asia and Munich Automobiles for letting me encounter this outstanding car up close and personal.