The 2018 BMW M5 is a formidable beast as it packs
all-wheel drive and 600 PS but the company is upping the ante
by unveiling the new M5 Competition. Starting under the hood, the model has a
twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine that produces 625 PS. This is
an increase of 25 PS but the torque figure remains unchanged at
750 Nm.
Thanks to the extra power, the M5 Competition
runs from 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and 0-200 km/h in
10.8 seconds. Compared to the standard model, these are improvements of 0.1 and
0.3 seconds.
The M5 Competition is equipped
with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a rear-biased all-wheel drive
system which works in conjunction with the car’s Active M Differential. While
some of the powertrain components carryover, the M5 Competition has special
engine mounts with an increased spring rate. BMW says this helps to deliver an
“even more direct engine response and immediate transmission of its power to
the drivetrain.”
The modifications don’t stop there as engineers
fine-tuned the chassis and suspension. They made a host of changes including
reducing the ride height by 7mm and using toe links with ball
joints instead of rubber mounts. BMW says the latter change results in “even
more precise wheel guidance at the rear axle.”
Speaking of the suspension, the model has been
equipped with 10 percent stiffer springs and a firmer rear anti-roll bar. The
dampers have also been tweaked and BMW says the Sport Plus setting “lends
itself to ultra-dynamic driving on grand prix tracks.”
Since the Competition is mainly focused on
performance, the styling changes are relatively subtle. That being said, the car
has high-gloss black accents on the grille, rear bumper and mirror caps. The
model also features Competition badging, exclusive 20-inch forged lightweight
wheels and a model-specific sports exhaust system that “generates a strikingly
prominent soundtrack.”
Moving
into the cabin, drivers will find special seat belts and unique floor mats with
an “M5” logo. The car’s instrument cluster also shows an “M Competition”
graphic at start up. The BMW M5 Competition will go into production in July and
U.S. pricing will start at $110,995.