The standard BMW M5 is no slouch, but the Bavarian brand has taken things up a notch with the release of the new M5 Competition.
The most hardcore and performance-focused variant of the M5 yet boasts increased power and performance, plus a reworked suspension setup to ensure it’s even more impressive in the corners.
The engine – still a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 – has had its power increased to 616bhp from 592bhp, making it the most powerful road-going BMW ever made. Torque is unchanged at 750Nm, but BMW has managed to spread it across a wider rev range, with peak torque now available from 1,800-5,800rpm. All that power is still delivered through an eight-speed automatic gearbox and the rear-biased xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
The key performance figures have improved slightly over the standard M5 and remain deeply impressive: 0-60mph is dealt with in 3.1 seconds and the 0-200km/h (124mph) sprint time has dropped from 11.1 seconds to 10.8 seconds. That’s faster than its main rival from Mercedes.
On the suspension front, BMW’s dropped the already low M5 by a further 7mm and stiffened the springs by 10%. The rear anti-roll bar has also been firmed up, while increasing the camber of the front wheels and adding new mounts to the front anti-roll bar produces, BMW claims, a more precise and direct steering feel.
The M5 Competition is the first of its type to be marketed as a standalone model. Previous iterations have been named ‘Competition Pack’ and acted more as a trim level or an optional package.
In keeping with its new standalone ethos, the Competition receives a visual upgrade to mark it out. The Competition-specific exhaust features black chrome tips, which are mirrored in the ‘Shadow Line’ trim. This replaces chrome with gloss black on the grille surround, side gills and window surrounds. The interior sees bespoke mats and new graphics for the infotainment. Prices start from £96,205 and deliveries take place in September.
