BMW’s performance sub-brand would look very different today if it wasn’t for the M5.
While the M1 was the first car to wear an M badge when it launched back in the 1970s, it wasn’t necessarily intended for public sale. Instead, it was a homologation car built to satisfy race requirements. Basically, BMW needed to sell enough privately in order to qualify for sanctioned racing.
The M division we know of today truly began with the 1984 BMW M5. When it arrived, it was something the world hadn’t seen yet: a high-performance luxury sedan.
A Quick History Lesson
That first M5 used an inline six-cylinder engine that was derived from the one developed for the M1. It had six individual throttle bodies and intake runners, one for each cylinder, and made 286 hp – much more than a regular 5 Series. The suspension was also modified using the company’s extensive motorsport experience.
When it launched it was the fastest production sedan in the world, with a top speed of 245 km/h. It was apparently as comfortable doing 200 km/h on the autobahn as it was carving up the Bavarian Alps. It combined the performance and handling of a sports car with the comfort of a luxury sedan.
Built for Today’s Standards
Through successive generations, the M5 became more powerful and more capable. And it has always been a hotbed of innovation, using the latest technology available in its pursuit of performance. To go even faster – and meet modern emissions regulations – the 2025 M5 will use a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, marking the first time electrification has made its way into this vaunted model in its 40-year history.
“In regards to emission regulations it’s getting more difficult to push up the performance even further,” M division boss Frank van Meel said of gas-only power. “But with electrification there are more possibilities.”
Under the hood is a familiar 4.4L V8 that uses a pair of turbochargers to make 585 hp. But there’s also a 145-kW electric motor integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission, pushing total output to 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. All that’s paired with a 14.8-kWh battery under the floor, with an estimated 40 km of emissions-free driving as a result.
Wider Than Before
In addition to PHEV power, the new M5 sports a wide body kit and a wider track than the regular 5 Series, another first, while the wheel sizes are staggered at 20 inches up front and 21 inches in the back. There’s also rear-wheel steering for the first time.
While previous M5s were known for being understated, that’s less the case this time around. In the past, plump fenders were reserved for the smaller M3 and the M2. But more power adds more demands from the rest of the vehicle.
“Performance and power output is just one issue, you have to be very careful with that,” van Meel said. “It means collateral damage to the brakes, and then cooling necessities go up, and then you add more weight to cool it down. At some stage you create a monster.”
Track Prowess
Taking to the 4.2-km Salzburgring in Austria for a handful of laps, it’s not just the M5’s output that stands out but the way the electric half of the powertrain is used to fill gaps in internal combustion torque to facilitate continuous and uninterrupted acceleration. Gear changes are barely noticeable and there’s no dip in power – not even for a moment. It’s like an entirely electric vehicle (EV), except it continues pulling hard past 200 km/h with no signs of running out of steam.
Flying down the straightest sections of the track, the M5 is planted and perfectly poised. The precise steering and communicative chassis leave little doubt as to which direction the front tires are pointed, while the rear-wheel steering helps to reduce understeer. Add it all up, and the M5 is uncannily agile for something so big.
The Michelin PS5 tires this prototype was riding on allow slightly more slip than something like the brand’s Cup 2. They also make it known as they approach their limits.
“Tires are just a miracle,” van Meel said. “Everyone’s always talking about the cars and the power and brakes, but without the right tires you cannot make it happen.”
Not Skimping on Luxury
Even on a racetrack the M5 is a comfortable place to sit. Engine sound is audible but not overly so, and it has a way of masking how fast it’s really going. Dial everything down and the M5 will waft you to your destination in perfect comfort, leaving passengers with few clues as to its true performance potential.
Final Thoughts
There’s only so much that can be gleaned after just five laps on a racetrack, but the 2025 BMW M5 represents another huge leap in performance and technology for the brand’s M division. The new drivetrain feels absolutely electric, moving it firmly into supercar territory, and that’s exactly where it belongs.
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