2019 BMW M5 Competition - A 625 hp rocket!!

TEST DRIVE: 2018 BMW M5 Competition – A 625 hp rocket

When the new F90 M5 arrived late last year, BMW has already set the bar quite high in this fun, but competitive segment of ultra-sporty business sedans. The sixth generation M5 was not only the fastest ever made, but also one of the fastest and more dynamic BMWs we’ve driven in the last decade. It also opened a new chapter for BMW M, being the first M car, other than the SUVs, to be offered with an all-wheel drive system tuned to be quite versatile, based on the customer’s needs and demands.

We’ve driven the car twice since, once in Portugal on the famous Estoril track and on BMW’s home turf in California, and each time, we came back impressed. Clearly BMW has fine tuned their M5 formula and left you wonder what could come next.
Cue in the all-new BMW F90 M5 Competition, a car introduced just a few months ago which aimed to be even sharper, even faster and more capable of taking down its main rival from Mercedes-AMG. On paper, the M5 Competition already looked like a winner, but nothing is better than a day on the track with such a capable machine.

So BMW decided it was a great idea to bring me to Ascari, Spain, to sample the fastest M car today, along with the M2 Competition which we presented a week ago.

The idea behind the M5 Competition is to cater to a small group within the M5 owners family who demand the best when it comes to their already expensive cars, a challenge that the M engineers in Garching often embrace and look forward to. To many, the F90 M5 was already faster than their driving capabilities, but that shouldn’t stop the progression and evolution of cars, so the M folks got to work.
It all starts up front, under the hood. The 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged engine in the F90 BMW M5 now makes 625 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase of 25 hp but its torque figure stays the same. However, that makes the M5 Competition more powerful than the Mercedes-AMG E63 S, it’s most fearsome rival, though the AMG still has more torque. Although, the M5 Competition’s torque spread is now 200 rpm wider, so that makes the car feel a bit punchier on the track, as you’d see later on.

BMW claims a 3.3-second 0-60 mph time, which is the same as the standard M5, but that it will get to 124 mph in 10.8 seconds, which is three-tenths faster than the regular car. That’s also quite remarkable for a sedan to break eleven seconds to 124 mph.
Next, the body roll and suspension settings were on the to-do list. The refined suspension is seven millimeters lower than the standard setup and has had its shocks, springs and geometry specifically-tuned for the M5 Competition. So an increase in negative camber at the front, thicker anti-roll bars and ball joints, rather than rubber bushings, at the rear axle make the BMW M5 Competition noticeably sharper and more communicative than the standard setup. Springs, both front and rear, are also ten percent stiffer, which allows the M5 Comp to handle a bit better than the normal car.

And everything combined, including the new front suspension tweaks, and lack of rubber compared to the old car, also improves the steering feel.
Last but not least important on the upgrade list was a new exhaust system. The “standard M5” is already a great sounding machine, thanks to its V8 engine, but the new M Sport exhaust is not only raspier, but misfires in a way that reminds you of a true race car.

Road Driving

In contrast to the M2 Competition, my day kicked off with another pre-defined route on the backroads around Ronda, the very same roads where we put to test its smaller brother. So basically got the same combination of curvy, uneven, narrow and slippery roads that require your full focus and attention, especially when managing a car of this size with that much power. Just like the standard M5, the M5 Competition is somewhat bipolar, and that’s okay because it’s exactly what ///M wanted. In Comfort mode, it’s domesticated, calm and a great companion, especially when you’re looking to take in all the scenery around you, without sacrificing the luxury of a business sedan. Every single character of the M5 Competition can be refined to your needs, starting with the steering and suspension, and moving onto the throttle response and transmission. In its most comfortable setup, the M5 Competition dances through the curvy roads without requiring a lot of engagement from the driver, so if you have any companions, this would make them happy.
Full Review https://www.bmwblog.com/2018/08/05/test-drive-2018-bmw-m5-competition-a-625-hp-rocket/

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