BMW has released the first official details and pictures of the new M5 due for UK release in spring next year. Wearing its usual sober suit with only the quad exhausts, door mirrors, subtle body addenda and the now familiar small grilles behind the front wheel arches to betray its identity, the new M5 looks set to continue as the benchmark in its class.

True to BMW's word the M5, or 'five car' as it had been known, delivers over 500bhp and 500Nm from a 5-litre V10, making it the most powerful BMW road car ever built. BMW had thus far resisted entering into a power struggle with Audi and Mercedes, but the M5 has traditionally been The Daddy of the large sports saloons, and to this end BMW has pulled out all the stops in order to keep the M5 ahead of the crowd.

Using technologies from F1, as well as the already proven Bi-Vanos variable valve timing system, the new 5-litre V10 revs to an incredible 8250rpm and produces 507bhp, meaning it becomes the latest in the line of M-division engines to achieve the magical 100bhp per litre. Combined with the kerb weight of 1755kg, genuine supercar pace is on tap with 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, 0-124mph in 15 seconds and, unrestricted, the laws of physics only rein in the M5 at 205mph. The M5 will only be sold with a 155mph limiter in place and no dealers will be allowed to officially remove it...

Initially the M5 will be available only with the latest iteration of the SMG gearbox, however this time it will be 7-speed (another F1 link), fitted with "Drivelogic" said to make the gearchange 20% faster than previous SMG 'boxes. The new 'box will allow full throttle changes and offers a total of eleven change strategies, six of which are for the manual mode. A launch control system similar to that in the latest M3 will also be fitted meaning the performance is easily accessible.

Keeping all this in check will be the M5's usual outstanding basic chassis enhanced by various electronic controls. The DSC has several levels of engagement including "M-Dynamic" that will allow the car to be slid around and oversteered without over zealous electronic intervention: a welcome addition. The DSC can also be disengaged altogether. New is the "M-drive" feature that engages a user defined set of chassis and control attributes via a button on the steering wheel. These settings can be personalised via the now familiar and much maligned I-drive system, and include gearbox, damping, DSC and even seat side support parameters. Braking is courtesy of cross-drilled ventilated discs grabbed by twin pot callipers.

The most novel new feature is a heads up display that will project information up onto the screen in front of the driver. Depending on mode selected this can be the revs and road speed so you don't need to look down for the vital information when pressing on. Sounds like a fantastic feature we look forward to trying, along with the rest, towards the middle of next year. Watch out for that review in the main Road Tests page.

Dave Jenkins - 10 Jul 2004