Next-gen BMW M5 to get AWD: report

The new boss of BMW M cars has told international media the next-generation M5 sports sedan will be equipped with a rear-biased all-wheel drive system.

Franciscus van Meel, the former boss of Audi RS and new head of BMW M, told English publication AutoExpress overnight that the new M5 and M6 would send drive to all four wheels in order to cope with big increases in power and torque.

"If we continue the power increases in the future – especially regarding torque and also horsepower – then probably the next generation M5 and M6 will have so much torque and power that we need to think about those solutions," he said. 

Rather than a 50:50 split system, van Meel said the M5's all-wheel drive system would feature a rear-biased setup to ensure the iconic sedan didn't lose its driving characteristics.

"I wouldn't like to use the word four-wheel drive because it's always connected a little bit – emotionally – to straightforward driving and that's not what we're talking about," he said.

"So if we go on a direction of four-wheel drive, for us it will really be like a rear-wheel drive with more traction."

The next-generation M5 and 5-Series range is tipped to land some time in 2016, followed by the release of the new 6-Series range.