AUTOMOTIVE
High-revving engine with BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology
At the heart of the BMW M5 Competition is a 4.4-litre V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology . The high-revving , eight-cylinder unit develops 625hp at 6,000rpm . Peak torque of 750Nm is on tap between 1,800 and 5,860rpm . The characteristics of the V8 can be altered at the touch of a button from the EFFICIENT mode to SPORT and SPORT +, the latter two further enhancing the engine ’ s response to movements of the accelerator . The BMW M5 Competition sprints from 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds , with 0-124mph achieved in 10.8 seconds .
Top speed is 155mph – or 189mph with the optional M Driver ’ s Package specified .
Eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic
The eight-speed M Steptronic transmission enables short shift times and fast , precise responses to every nudge of the accelerator . The Drivelogic switch on the gear selector allows three modes for efficient , sporty or dynamically intense track driving with rapid gearshifts . The driver can use both the selector lever and the shift paddles on the steering wheel to take control of gear changes manually . In manual mode , they can also execute multiple downshifts to the lowest available gear , for instance when braking into tight corners . Additionally , there are no automatic upshifts when the engine is revved to the limit .
M xDrive with rear-wheel bias ensures exceptional agility
The centrally controlled interaction between the M xDrive all-wheeldrive system and the Active M Differential helps to effectively channel the engine ’ s output to the car ’ s wheels and generates enough extra traction to achieve acceleration times worthy of a super-sports car .
The engine ’ s torque is variably distributed between the front and rear wheels via the transfer case ’ s electronically controlled multi-plate clutch , before the Active
M Differential splits it again between the two rear wheels , as appropriate . The rear-wheel-biased setup of M xDrive provides the BMW M5 Competition with standout agility . In addition , the driver can vary the distribution of power between front and rear wheels themselves , and also adjust the responses of the Dynamic Stability Control ( DSC ) system .
M Dynamic Mode ( MDM ) holds the key to controlled drifts and entertaining handling , and offers another three modes ( with DSC deactivated ) which have been optimised for track driving : as well as 4WD and 4WD Sport , drivers also have the choice of 2WD mode ( also automatically disabling DSC ) for the traditional BMW M5 rear-wheel drive experience .
New suspension dampers
The BMW M5 Competition has a specially tuned chassis , which includes double-wishbone front suspension and five-link rear suspension . It benefits from experience gained in the development of the new BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupé .
The electronically-controlled Variable Damper Control ( VDC ) system offers three driving modes – COMFORT , SPORT and SPORT +. COMFORT mode focuses on everyday usability and familiar M comfort , combined with standout dynamics . SPORT mode , meanwhile , reduces wheel and body movements to create more direct contact with the road , but still has sufficient comfort dialled in . SPORT + mode maximises dynamic performance on smooth asphalt such as race tracks , with wheel and body movements minimised .
The M Servotronic steering gives drivers the choice of COMFORT mode for greater ease of use and lightness – in town driving and on short journeys , for example – and SPORT mode , where greater steering force is required and feedback through the wheel increases noticeably .
The amount of camber at the front axle enhances the car ’ s ability to absorb lateral forces through high-speed corners , while fitting the toe links with ball joints instead of rubber mounts has resulted in highly precise wheel guidance at the rear axle . The high spring rate of the rear anti-roll bar allows the body roll that occurs through high-speed corners to be distributed with a pronounced rear bias .
The BMW M5 Competition is fitted with forged , bi-colour , 20-inch M light-alloy wheels in Y-spoke design ( front : 9.5J x 20 , rear : 10.5J x 20 ) and mixed-size tyres ( front : 275 / 35R 20 , rear : 285 / 35R 20 ).
www . bmwgroup . com
Issue 45 2020 The Art of Luxury
93