New photos of the upcoming 2012 BMW M5 surface on the interwebs. Recently unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show, the new F10 M5 is preparing for an official launch at the M Festival on June 23rd.
The photos seem to be from the same batch revealed last week when for the first time we had the opportunity to see the new V8 TwinPower engine in all its glory. The photos were taken at the Shanghai show, and it remains unclear if the interior shots portray the final design. Rumors say that the cockpit displayed in China was not the official one and the lack of an M button on the steering wheel ads more uncertainty.
As you see in the photos below, the F10 M5 will take advantage of the Black Panel technology that first debuted in the 7 Series. Inside, the typical M elements remain, starting with the M steering wheel and the M gear selector.
Full details around the powerplant remain unknown, but we learned in the past that the 2012 BMW M5 is powered by an updated version of the S63 engine found in the BMW X5 M and X6 M. The 4.4-liter V8 twin-scroll powerplant will peak at somewhere in the 570-horsepower range and 530 lb-ft of torque. The 0-62 mph dash should take about 4.4 seconds,
The updated unit delivers both performance and efficiency significantly increased in comparison to the previous engine. Numerous drivetrain innovations and other enhancements have lead to a reduction in fuel consumption and emission levels by more than 25 percent.
The new engine is matted to a 7-speed M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic. The combination of the new engine with M Drivelogic is supplemented by an Auto Start Stop function. A manual option will be offered for US customers.
The super sporty sedan goes on sale in early 2012 and it is rumored to have a base price around $100,000 mark.
[Source: Germancarforum ]
Author: Horatiu Boeriu
Source: http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/05/23/inter ... mw-m5-f10/