2012 BMW M5 four-wheel drive option confirmed: report

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By Brett Davis | May 03rd, 2011

According to a recent report by Autocar in the UK, BMW insiders have acknowledged that a four-wheel drive system is being planned for the new 2012 BMW M5. Although nothing is official yet, the four-wheel drive system is likely to be an optional package.

Bringing out a four-wheel drive version of the M5 may annoy some diehard M car fans, but with new demands of the emerging markets, such as China, BMW will be able to cater more effectively to regions where snowfall is a regular occurrence if it offers all-wheel drive. The all-paw system might also win over some potential Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG buyers, as such grip is not an option.

BMW recently unveiled a concept version of the next-generation BMW M5 at Auto Shanghai 2011 in China. The car featured a twin-turbo V8 engine matched to a Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Official power and torque figures are yet to be released, although, outputs over 400kW are extremely likely.

Like all previous BMW M5s, and M cars in general, the new M5 will feature a discreet bodykit and styling tweaks over the standard model. Larger wheels will also be included for the purpose of surrounding a huge disc brake package, supporting the high-power engine. Likewise, extensive suspension and chassis revisions will be made. Inside the car will be similarly-modest, showcasing a luxurious yet supportive interior decor.

The production version of the 2012 BMW M5 is set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September later this year.

Roadtard

The 2000kg M5. Hghgmmm.
Drac

AWD Turbo? Is this an M5 or a skyline GT-R?
Chris N

“ringing out a four-wheel drive version of the M5 may annoy some diehard M car fans”

lol i think they’d already be annoyed seeing as this M is no longer NA.
pcpg

hmm… M5 AWD vs. M5 RWD. should be interesting to see
Edd

One of the best Car human ever made
Valet Dabess

i don’t like the front bumper, it’s like it wants to be an m3
jbot

Makes sense from a potential sales perspective. Having BMWs as RWD only really hurts sales in the snow-affected parts of the world, and some of these like like the US are big markets.

Devil’s Advocate

BMW have been offering AWD versions of their some of their cars for years in some countries jbot and the US is one of them. For example the 3 series wagon with AWD has been around for a while now…

Devil’s Advocate

To add to that jbot, BMW even offered AWD on an E30 3 series from the 80s/early 90s.

http://www.meccano.co.nz Dai Endicott-Davies

Now, that’s a car
I’ve been waiting many many years for this to happen
Thank you BMW!
Will they be available in NZ
sm

I wonder what will happen to all the snide remarks about BMW’s being better balanced on the limit as compared to predictable boring Audi AWD… maybe just maybe Audi was onto something.

If you can drive like Stig and you have your own track where you can hang the tail out for 400m then yeah a RWD BMW is probably the way to go but for all us mere mortals an AWD will be faster and more confidence inspiring every day of the week.
MattW

If BMW stay true to past form, that “concept” is the production version.

I test drivers are needed to compare the RWD & AWD versions, let me know
jd

anybody who opposes this is a moron and pretend to be a hardcore michael schumaker wannabe. go buy a rwd version if you like. nobody is stopping you.any car that has more than 400 hp should have an option of an awd. porsche has it and nobody’s complaining. even the new ferrari has awd only. what is power if you can’t put to the ground? ask a viper owner. let’s see hmmm a porsche turbo s awd that has 500hp is faster than a corvette zr1 that has 638hp and 400 lbs. lighter. tell me why is that. so i will gladly trade my 2010 M5 for this new awd M5 so you can eat my dust.