I like it. I think it looks like the Evo's big brother. Let us not forget, many nonbelievers think the Evo is ugly. The model I'm extremely eager to see is the new 4 Series coupe.

 

This official press release was mailed to the moderator of m5board.com:

1. BMW Concept M5.

– The world’s first V10 high-revving engine in a saloon car.
– The world’s first 7-speed SMG in a saloon car.
– The best power-to-weight ratio in its market segment.

Precisely 20 years have already passed since the BMW M5 established a new segment, which has in the meantime also been discovered by other car manufacturers. And that car – the original – is still by far the most successful player in the high performance saloon car segment. Spread over three generations of production, more than 35,000 units were built – initially manually at the BMW M plant in Munich and later at the 5 Series
assembly line in Dingolfing. These units were then sold worldwide.
The secret of the BMW M5’s popularity has always been the successful synthesis of unobtrusive yet powerful appearance, combined with a
high-performance power unit – a sports car featuring Formula 1 technology and at the same time a saloon car offering premium comfort.
In terms of driving dynamics, the BMW M5 had always set standards in its segment. It not only excelled due to its high performance, but due to the way in which M power was produced and developed. It appeared as if this first-rate car’s inexhaustible power reserves had created a totally new dimension in effortlessness.

BMW M5 parameters: Performance, style and driving fun.

Due to the change of model within the 5 Series, the BMW M product portfolio is currently presented without a BMW M5, even though the demand for such a car has never diminished. For this reason, BMW M designers have begun designing a possible successor based on the new BMW 5 Series. This car is a far-reaching concept on an appealing subject: the BMW Concept M5.

Such a car could undoubtedly serve as a stimulus and offer solutions for a future series-production vehicle. Totally in keeping with the high demands of our clientele, whose main reasons for purchasing a car are performance, style and driving fun, the BMW M5 Concept makes its living out of contrasts: the principle of optimal performance wrapped in a discreet but, by comparison with the 5 Series, distinctive body design.


When seen alongside the new 5 Series, the exterior design of the
BMW Concept M5 has its very own uniqueness. Modified front and rear air dams and side sills, a slightly lower body, side air vents, an exclusive
wheel design as well as the four M-type tailpipes, visually accentuate the vehicle’s claim to being a sports car.

The first V10 high-revving power unit in a saloon car.

The heart of every M automobile, and that includes the BMW Concept M5, must be its exclusive high-performance power unit with high-revving air intake technology, an engine which sets a benchmark in this field. With this
engine, BMW M is presenting a masterpiece in power unit technology that undoubtedly has just what it takes: the figure 5 is predominant with a
5.0-litre capacity producing around 500 bhp (368 kW) and a maximum torque of at least 500 Nm, these being the kind of figures BMW M considers worthy of a possible new M5.

And the figure ten will also gain in significance, as, for the first time in
BMW history, a series-production saloon car is to be powered by a
ten-cylinder internal combustion engine, the sound and power of which is closely related to the engine currently providing monstrous power to the
BMW Williams Formula 1 racing car, without a doubt the most powerful car
on the starting grid.

The engine powering the BMW Concept M5 should be in a position to mobilise the enormous power reserves required to assist this unique sports saloon car in achieving a remarkable driving performance. Engineers at
BMW M envisage the car accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) over the classic distance in well under 5 seconds, the 200 km/h mark being reached in just 13 seconds.

 

It is not power alone that makes an M power unit so unique.
The technology of this newly-developed ten-cylinder engine should not be perceivable by single-dimensional power or sheer performance alone, but first and foremost by the method of achieving such performance. M power featured in the new BMW Concept M5 will once again rise to the occasion and become a perfect example of what is technically feasible and appropriate.

This is evident not only in the extremely appealing design of a BMW high-performance engine. Needless to say, this specially developed BMW M engine incorporates typical features such as high-pressure VANOS, individual throttle butterflies, engine electronics designed by our own engineers and based on knowledge gained from Formula 1 racing as well as traverse force-regulated oil supply.

 

Anyone see the new 6? That looks crazy good.

 

I'd be willing to bet that the final HP rating comes in at under 500hp and more like 470-475. With the problems the current e46 M3 and e39 M5 have had with VANOS and finding the proper oil weight, I think BMW may have become spooked and will keep output below 100hp/L.

 

I had heard the engine was going to be a 5.5L V10... Needing only 91 HP/L (still very good for a large motor).

 

booooooooo

 

I'd be very shocked if the car didn't come with at least 500hp. With the way those guys make engines, getting at least 100hp/L shouldn't be a problem. Hell, 10 years ago, they got over 100/L with the V12 in the Mac F1. And, with Audi having 450 in the RS6, and the Benz boys having 475 in the E55, I can't see them coming with much less than 500. Its a classic horsepower war. And, with both of those other cars coming out a few years ago, it would seem silly to come out with a new car next year with the same or less power than what the others had a couple years ago. We'll have to see, but I bet it comes with at least 500.

Hilg

 

I have been hearing rumors that the power is more like 530 hp

 

Actually fellas, Mr. Bangle did not design the 5 series BMW. Nor has he probably designed a vehicle in quite a while. Yes, he is the director of design at BMW and that makes him a decision maker. The current design language (see Z4) that BMW is employing can probably be credited to Anders Warming, a fellow alumni from ArtCenter. If you've ever seen the sketches of the Z4, you'll see his name signed to the sketches.

More than anything, I appreciate what BMW is doing with it's design...plain and simple, it's "fresh" and not the status quo. They are taking automotive design where it hasn't been. What they are doing is driving current design to change direction, a "paradigm shift" if you will.

Peace

 

Typically the only time a paradigm shift is necessary is when the current system isn't working.

BMW's previous designs were some of the classiest, most timeless designs around. I (and many other people, obviously) don't think such a shift was really needed.

 

According to your logic then, in the year 2020, BMW should still be making the same body style that they were 2 years ago. And yes, in fact, a paradigm shift is needed. BMW considers itself a leader in design and styling as opposed to Honda which borrow's from here and there and has no intention of being a leader in "styling". BMW, Mercedes Benz, Alfa Romeo and Renault are the car companies that most of the Japanese automakers benchmark. When their vehicles start looking like Honda's or Lexuses (I'm talking basic form language here), they need a new form language which sets them apart from the competition.Let me pose this question...When Cadillac in the late 50's added aircraft style fins to the rear 3/4 panels, do you think that people questioned that decision? I bet they did, but that style today is considered beautiful and part of a great era in automotive design.

I see this move by BMW to be "ballsy" to say the least, and there are certain design elements that I do not like (trunk area of current 7 series), but the new design language that BMW has now implemented has already drastically aged the last generation of bimmers.

 

That is true about Bangle not 'officially' designing the cars. But, as many people know, when you are in charge of something, its your head on the chopping block. He heads all of the design work at the 'ZIF', so when people say they like or dislike something coming from there, it is he who is looked to for an explanation.

Its like when people ***** about how much they hate Windows crashing all the time and what not, they almost always bring up Bill Gates, even though these days he has almost nothing to do with how Windows functions at a technical level. He is the one people associate with MS, and so he gets all the flak.

With Bangle though, I think the flak is acceptable. When you are the head of design, it ultimately is you who has final say with designs, so it is him who should be questioned. Either way, I love the designs coming from them. If you read my earlier posts, you'll see that I totally agree with you. Like I said earlier, you don't get ahead in the automotive businiess by just doing what you always do. The new designs are dramatic at first, but they still have that 'BMW feel' to them to keep them familiar. I love it.

Hilg

 

Spoken like a fellow designer? Yeah, like I said, it is Bangles responsibilty. Don't quote me on this, but I do believe that BMW's sales of there most recent models are higher than there previous models....so, according to that data, I wouldn't mind being in Chris Bangles shoes.

 

No, not a designer, just someone who enjoys automotive design. But, as a former art student, I know what its like to have something you created get bashed and critically analyzed. I do, however, know what it is like to be the head of tough projects though, and when they fail, its always you people come to for answers. Its the whole team when things are good, and you when they are bad. But, thats what you know going in, and you deal with it.

Also, on the topic of sales, I did read an interesting fact. The new 7 Series sales are up almost 18% early in this period of its life in relation to the same time frame for the outgoing model. So, like they say, even bad press is still press. People can ***** all they want, but the cars they build are selling, so something is working.

Hilg