Plug-In Hybrid Powertrain Of The 2025 BMW M5 Produces 717 Horsepower
One of the many things the new BMW M5 is is hefty. There’s just no getting around it, despite all of the iconic sports sedan’s insane numbers. To begin with, the flagship M vehicle is now larger. The M5 is now 2.1 inches taller, 2.7 inches wider, and 1.2 inches longer overall than the previous model M5 Competition. It also has a 0.9-inch longer wheelbase. And there’s the extra weight. BMW claims that the 2025 model weighs an incredible 5390 pounds. That’s 1153 pounds more than the previous model—in fact, it weighs more than the 2024 i5 M60 xDrive sedan, which is completely electric.
Now with Plug-In Technology
As it moves into its seventh iteration, the M5 incorporates a plethora of new technologies. This time, a permanently excited synchronous electric motor is used in conjunction with the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 engine to provide power. The result is a combined output of 717 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Compared to the previous M5 CS, which had 627 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, these numbers are significantly greater.
The 194-hp electric motor contained in the eight-speed automatic transmission is powered by a 14.8-kWh lithium-ion battery that is located beneath the floor. The torque of the electric motor can be increased from 206 to 332 pound-feet because of a brief pre-gearing in the vehicle’s launch-control system.
In light of the instantaneous torque of the e-motor, BMW’s stated 3.4-second zero-to-60-mph sprint time appears cautious. A top speed of 190 mph is listed by the manufacturer when the optional BMW Driver’s package is installed (155 mph without it).
Personalized Control
Customization is key to the M5’s drivetrain. The M5 has five drive modes: Hybrid (the standard mode), Electric (capable of reaching 87 mph and covering around 25 miles), and the eControl battery-saving mode. The Dynamic and Dynamic Plus modes are designed for use on tracks and are only accessible with the extra M Drive Professional package.
In addition to the drive modes, drivers can adjust the throttle mapping, transmission, chassis, steering, and brakes, and there are three levels of shift aggression. One more configurable feature of the all-wheel-drive system is the ability to allocate power between the front and rear axles. A new feature is the boost control function, which can be activated by pushing the left-hand shift paddle between 20 and 90 mph. This engages the sportiest settings for the chassis and powertrain systems.
The new M5 boasts more cross-bracing under the hood, strengthened suspension mounts, and a stiffer body construction underneath. Steel springs and adjustable dampers with electromagnetically controlled valves provide dampening forces for every wheel in the new M suspension. In order to improve the M5’s agility on the racetrack and to decrease the huge sedan’s turning radius at low speeds, the new car has four-wheel steering.
Either a sizable set of conventional brakes or an additional set of carbon ceramic brakes are used for braking. Each axle has single-piston floating calipers at the back and six-piston fixed calipers up front. Not only do carbon ceramic brake pads have more stopping force and less brake fade, but they also weigh roughly 55 pounds less than ordinary stoppers. The wheels on the departing car were 20 inches all around; however, the front wheels are now 20 inches and the rear wheels are 21 inches. The track width of the M5 has also increased by 0.4 inch.
Bold New Look
It should come as no surprise that the new M5 has a more aggressive look than the regular 5-series, with protruding carbon-fiber channels that extend behind the modified kidney grille. The M5 is distinguished from other versions by its broader fenders, which measure 3.0 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the back. Additionally, the quad exhaust tips that protrude through the diffuser highlight the car’s tail. BMW offers a BMW Individual paint color range that includes only one solid color and nine metallic possibilities, albeit you can pay extra for one.
The M5’s interior resembles that of any other 5-series vehicle, although having a significant amount more carbon fiber. A red center marking at the 12 o’clock position and a flat bottom characterize the new three-spoke M leather steering wheel. Both the paddle shifters positioned behind the wheel and the programmable M buttons have undergone minor redesigns. Permanent DSC setting buttons are located in the center console control panel, just like in other newer M vehicles.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is where the M5 is expected to have its world premiere in July. In November, it will go on sale globally after entering into production that same month. The starting price of the seventh-generation automobile is expected to be $120,675, which is around $9K higher than that of a standard 2023 M5.
