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F10 M5

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Fresh from its international launch at Ascari Race Resort in the south of Spain just two weeks ago, the 2012 BMW M5 made its African debut last week at the Johannesburg International Motor Show (JIMS).

By now we’ve all seen plenty of images of the new German muscle car, but with its recent presence at our local motor show, it’s good to know we’re getting closer to seeing the latest Bavarian powerhouse on our roads soon – January 2012 in fact.

The new M5 has been launched with heightened interest, mainly due to its smaller capacity, M TwinPower Turbo equipped, 4.4-litre engine. With 412 kW and 680 Nm of torque, the high-revving V8 engine is said to provide constant power over a broad range of engine speeds. Compared to the previous V10-powered E60 M5 model, maximum power is up around ten per cent, torque has increased by 30 percent and BMW claim a 30 per cent reduction in fuel consumption (9.9 L/100km). The power of the V8 engine is transmitted via a Drivelogic seven-speed M double-clutch transmission to the rear wheels, where the new Active M differential ensures optimal distribution of torque at any given moment.

Inside, the 2012 M5 features a newly designed centre console with surrounding buttons to allow the driver to vary the drivetrain and suspension parameters. In addition to the engine characteristics and the gear shift programme, the parameters of the M Servotronic steering, the characteristics of the Dynamic Damper Control (DDC) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), including M Dynamic Mode, can also be adjusted. Furthermore, for the first time, two ‘M Drive’ buttons are mounted on the steering wheel, which allow the driver to choose from previous selected M-mode configurations.

We look forward to bringing you a full report on the new M5 when it officially launches here in January next year, but until then, we’ll leave you with a few figures to ponder… 0 – 100km/h in 4.4 seconds, 0 – 200 km/h in 13 seconds, 250 km/h top speed (electronically limited), 305 km/h top speed when equipped with M Driver’s Package.