The 2011 BMW M5 saloon will have a 0-100 km/h time 0.3 seconds faster than the current model, according to Car Magazine. The car will receive a significant boost in power and torque, and a generous increase in efficiency.
Unfortunately, those who want a wagon variant will have to look elsewhere. No new BMW M5 Touring is planned for production at this time, according to the magazine.
Engineers at the German automaker achieved the faster time despite dumping the 5-liter V10-engine in favor of a 4.4-liter bi-turbo V8. Horsepower on the engine, already seen in the X5 M, bounces up to 578 hp, while torque is increased over the most recent M5 by 40% from 380 lft-lb to 531 ft-lb.
Even with better performance, the car will use an estimated 30% less fuel, while pumping out similarly reduced emissions, with final figures expected to be at a respectable 24 mpg. This was not only accomplished with weight management, but through the use of the company's Efficient Dynamics system. A kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), developed by the company's ex-F1 programme, may also make it to the final vhehicle.
If the 250 km/h (155 mph) speed limiter were removed, the car would top out around 303 km/h (188.3 mph). The 2011 BMW M5 should be introduced at the end of 2010, with market launch in the spring of 2011.