FIRST LOOK: New 717bhp BMW M5 – The Boss is Back… But Hybrid

This is the new BMW M5. That’s BIG NEWS, because this is both the halo offering from BMW’s M Division, and the super-saloon that’s long been the swaggering king of the jungle with enough nous to see off the likes of whatever rivals Mercedes AMG or Audi RS could cook up.

The first signs appear promising for this new-gen M5 too, with a twin-turbo V8 powertrain offering 717bhp and 737lb ft, plus an updated version of the switchable M xDrive chassis tech, which offers sensible 4wd, rear-biased 4wd and showboating rear-drive.

But… the M5 is now a hybrid. Which brings a power boost – as the V8 alone is good for only 577bhp and 553lb ft – but also some weight gain. Okay, a lot of weight gain, as this isn’t a new Porsche 911 GTS-style small battery, fast discharge/fast recharge set-up. Rather, it’s a plug-in hybrid with a 22.1kWh battery and an EV range of over 40 miles. Before there’s a driver onboard, it’s 2,435kg…

So, can it be any good? Alongside time in an echoey studio with a static BMW M5, Top Gear Magazine’s Deputy Editor, Ollie Kew, has also been behind the wheel of a pre-production prototype. Over to him…

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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:38 - Walkaround
04:29 - Interior
07:46 - Drive
14:13 - Conclusion

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