The new 727bhp BMW M5 is big, beautiful and bloody ballistic plus it's a PHEV for the first time ever
LAST week, I completed Bumblebee 1000's latest roadtrip in the ballistic new BMW M5.
This incredible machine is the most powerful M5 ever, and also the first plug-in hybrid M5.
Advertisement
Combined, its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, 145kw electric motor and 18.6kWh battery produce a supercar-rivalling 727bhp and 1,000Nm of torque.
It's astonishingly fast, able to blitz 0-100kph in just 3.5 seconds, and with the optional M Drivers Package it will keep charging all the way to 305kph.
7
BUMBLEBEE BEAST: The M5 made the perfect machine for Bumblebee 1000's latest charity roadtrip as it's supercar-fast and super comfy on long journeys
Credit: Jacob Liggett
But fitting the engine and hybrid system into a big five-door family saloon adds weight.
And the fact the new M5 tips the scales at 2,510kg has been a huge topic of discussion.
Advertisement
But the majority of those complaining about the weight have not driven it, because if you did, then you would understand how incredible a job the BMW boffins have done to mask that weight.
When cornering hard on uneven surfaces or under heavy braking, sure, you notice the weight, but you really have to be pushing the M5 to the max.
7
BELLY OF THE BEAST: The M5's 4.4-litre, twin-tubo V8 and hybrid system produces an incredible 727bhp
Credit: Paddy McGrath www.pmcgphotos.com
Key facts:
BMW M5
Cost:
From €137,055 (From £111,405 in the UK)
Engine:
4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8, 145kW electric motor
and 18.6kWh battery
Power:
727bhp
Torque:
1,000Nm
0-100kph:
3.5 seconds
Top Speed:
305kph
Economy:
148.7mpg
Emissions:
43g/km
Rivals:
Mercedes-AMG E53, Audi RS7, Porsche Panamera
It comes with Adaptive M Suspension with electronically controlled dampers and Integral Active Steering,.
Advertisement
This clever feature can steer the rear wheels by up to 1.5° and this improves directional stability at high speeds, as well as agility and comfort when manoeuvring.
Most read in Motors
Review
Review
When driven sensibly it's a very comfortable long-distance cruiser, and if you keep the battery charged it's economical too.
BMW quote a 148.7mpg figure.
I didn't see results as good as that but on my way to Bumblebee, I filled the M5 with petrol in Newry and drove to Barberstown Castle near Dublin and the gauge just dipped below full.
7
BRING THE NOISE: It comes fitted with an M Exhaust but it could be louder to really let that big V8 sound its best as that's the only area the M5 is lacking
Credit: Paddy McGrath www.pmcgphotos.com
Advertisement
And it does have a very useful 70km electric-only range too.
But step on the gas and the M5 has the power to annihilate the Autobahn with ease.
It will explode into life, pinning you back in your seat as it relentlessly slams through all of its eight gears at an alarming rate, making wonderful noises out of the twin-exit dual exhausts.
But my one complaint is that it could be louder, even fitted with the M Exhaust — I'd love to hear more roar from that big V8.
Behind the steering wheel are two discrete M1 and M2 buttons that allow you to quickly switch between different set-ups for engine, chassis, steering and brakes, so choose M2 for manic and M1 for the full maniac mode.
Advertisement
7
MAGIC NUMBERS: Red buttons behind the wheel allow you to quickly switch between different set-ups for engine, chassis, steering and brakes so choose M2 for manic and M1 for the full maniac mode
Credit: Paddy McGrath
You can also switch the M5's all-wheel-drive M xDrive system from 4WD to 2WD.
However this is best suited to track driving as you wouldn't be long burning through a set of rear tyres.
My test car came fitted with the optional M Carbon-Ceramic Brakes that are incredible, doing a phenomenal job of bringing the big Beemer to a stop.
Advertisement
It also came with M Performance Parts that add carbon door mirror, boot spoiler and exhaust tips — even the roof is carbon fibre.
7
BOOT SIZE: The M5's boot offers 466 litres of luggage space
Credit: Jacob Liggett
7
LAP OF LUXURY: BMW's curved dual screens take centre stage, there's heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats
Credit: Paddy McGrath www.pmcgphotos.com
Inside, the cabin is superb as you'd imagine from a flagship BMW.
Advertisement
The curved dual screens dominate the dash, with carbon trim everywhere.
The sports seats are superb, heated and air-cooled, the M badge lights up at night and there's heated seats in the back as well.
The M5 saloon starts at €137,055 and the Touring model is a few grand more, starting at €139,515 and that's a lot of money.
Read more on the Irish Sun
Its little brother the M3 is actually more expensive as it starts from €154,395, but the M5 is more powerful, and as it's a PHEV, it's much cheaper to tax.
Advertisement
7
THE KING OF CARBON: The M5 is available with carbon fibre mirrors, carbon boot spoiler, carbon ceramic brakes, even the roof's carbon
Credit: Paddy McGrath
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Renault 5 EV review: retro looks meet modern tech in electric supermini reboot
it might not go terribly far, but it does so brilliantly JUST like the movies, it would seem, the motor industry appears incapable of allowing past great moments to simply revel in their greatness. Seeing as how Hollywood — or wherever is the epicentre of the movie world these days — has seemingly re-made every single great movie from the past, apart maybe from Gone With The Wind, to try and turn it into profitable dollars for a second time, car makers sometimes feel equally in thrall to their own greatest hits. Consistently, they go back to the font of greatness which spawned wonderful originals to either attempt to revive currently dire circumstances, or simply to trick the public into believing they have not lost the magic which made those cars great in the first place. We are not talking here about such as, say, the Toyota Corolla, which has rolled from generation to generation without a pause in profitability or popularity. No, we are talking about cars which were once generational icons and which have been revived spectacularly. The most obvious example has been BMW's Mini; the Germans took over Austin Rover (or whatever it was called when it was sold off for a few quid and a McDonald's voucher), with the sole intention of reviving the Mini brand. That must have been the case because they, in turn, sold everything else off — MG, Rover, Land Rover, etc, apart from the Mini brand. Their success in revitalising it has been inspirational. So too the Fiat 500, the modern version of which possibly single-handedly saved the Italian company's bacon and spawned a whole family of cars with everything in there from a speedy Abarth version to the dull-as-ditchwater MPV. Lately, though, we have seen a raft of former greats being dug up from the grave, dusted down, and given a second life. Most recently, Renault has been close to the top of this pile, with old hit makers being given a chance to top the charts again. The Renault 4 — the new one — will be with us soon, but while we are waiting for that, we can ogle at the new Renault 5. Already a European Car of the Year (COTY) winner last year, the original R5, of course, vanished into the mist when it was replaced by the Clio in 1990. Now, while the Clio itself was a hugely successful car (one of only two cars to have won the European COTY prize twice), there was always a place for the car it took over from in the hearts of motoring savants everywhere. That being so, Renault decided to build a new one, and that's what we're testing this week. Like so many reenvisioned motors these days, the R5 has been reawakened solely as an EV, so it's not quite the car it once was, but that's OK too, because we have moved along somewhat in the intervening years. The end result, however, is spectacular. Renault 5 futuristic interior Those of you who remember the old 5 will see the new one and, more than likely, think: 'Wow, they sure got this one right.' While the designers have woven in plenty of modernity in the new car, there is just enough retro character imbued in it for people of a certain age to get misty-eyed. And I would be one of them. Not long after coming to Cork to work for this august organ, I owned one — GIO 84, was the registration number, and that identified it as originally having been registered in Kildare under Ireland's pre-1987 registration system. Dark blue, it was and very pretty, although by today's standards of technology, it was most certainly prehistoric. There was no central locking, no power steering, no radio, no auto gearbox, no ABS — none of that malarkey. But it was a tiger and made it through many experiences which, undoubtedly, the designers had never intended it for. Roomy, practical, and possibly quicker than many other contemporary superminis, the R5 amounted to more than the sum of its parts and, interestingly, that is a conclusion I also arrived at when assessing the new one recently. In its 'pop yellow' overcoat, it certainly caught the eye, and the bi-colour roof further stood it out from the crowd. That the body is roughly the same shape as the original and yet still looks of this moment is a tribute to the detailed work of the designers who truly have forged something new from old building blocks. Certainly, it is not perfect as there are a couple of things that should annoy most sensible people, but it sure comes close. The new R5 is new from the ground up and is the first car based on the AmpR Small platform, which will underpin a bunch of new Renault models, including the R4. That fact means the car has been built to do loads of things, including supporting vehicle-to-grid technology, so you can power your home from it. Cool, or what? New too is the whole interior, and it is largely made from recycled materials, including the vivid yellow and grey upholstery. So French is it that you can even specify a baguette holder, but quirks like that aside, it really is very modern and stacked with tech, to the point you're left wondering how the original managed to function at all. The new Renault 5 EV The infotainment system is excellent — much is shared with the new Megane and Scenic — but one downside is the stalk arrangement on the steering column for the lights, indicators, wipers, and sound system control, which is fussy and takes a while to get used to. This is not a big car, and that's reflected in the amount of room afforded to the rear seat passengers, and the boot is tidy rather than generous. Performance-wise, there is an element of Jekyll and Hyde going on. The test car's battery — 52 kWh — is the bigger of the two offered and produces some 148bhp, as well as a top speed of 150km/h and a 0-100km/h time of eight seconds dead. By way of reference, that's only a smidgen behind the capability of the R5 GT Turbo of the 1990s, which was regarded as very hot back in the day. It is thus quite quick, but has the handling nous to cope, and at no point did you get the feeling that the chassis was overwhelmed. That was in stark contrast with the original, it has to be said. The ride, too, is accomplished and very forgiving in Irish conditions. If, however, you were expecting deal-breaking range performance from this, most modern of hatchbacks, forget it. The claimed range is 410km, but I found that wildly optimistic. I know I have a heavy right foot at the best of times, but the 320km maximum I extracted from the car suggested to me that — in reality — this is a town car that'll only get a little way beyond your urban boundaries. Moderate journeys are possible, but getting to Aunty Maisie's funeral in Ballybofey will be challenging. Despite the downsides, this is still a fantastic piece of kit, and while some might blanche at such things as the colour schemes, their antipathy should be ignored. I found pretty much everything about the new R5 to be delightful, and that's why it gets a five-star rating. Read More Volvo XC90 review: hybrid SUV blends luxury with practicality but shows its age on the road
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Abandoned UK car graveyard where fleet of 90s icons left to rot – including classic Cadillac & discontinued favourite
A HAUNTING graveyard of rotting vintage vehicles has been captured in the British countryside. Images show rusting motors lined up, including a nostalgic 90s Cadillac, in various states of disrepair. 2 A haunting graveyard of 90s motors was captured by an explorer Credit: YouTube/Road To Rust 2 Volvos and even a Cadillac were sighted in the eerie scrapyard Credit: YouTube/Road To Rust The scrapyard, which inhabits a crumbling UK farm, also includes dusty Micras and Volvos. The latter takes up most of the space, where a lineup of once eye-catching 240s and 244s eerily sit. Some of them don badges and stickers from their last days on the road. One Volvo in particular is likely a more recent addition as it sports a fresh-looking exhaust warning sticker. read more in motors But others have seen better days. Some have been stacked, used to prop up even more scrap, their roofs caved in under the weight of other forgotten vehicles. And viewers may have to squint to identify a left-hand-drive Cadillac buried beneath overgrown bramble. This isn't the first time that classic cars have been left to rot in a barn. Most read in Motors Over 40 A fleet of dilapidated fire engines covered in mould and peeling red paint were also found. Shocking moment speeding van driver distracted by phone slams into broken-down car leaving victim with lifelong injuries The images were taken by urban explorer Kyle Urbex during his 220th exploration at Brian's Vintage Car Collection in Chester. Kyle found the graveyard hidden away behind dense vegetation near the home of elderly couple Brian and Barbara. Other images show old tractors and JCBs scattered across the property, giving it an eerie abandoned atmosphere. He also found a BMW 635 CSI, once a sign of luxury, slowly being reclaimed by nature. With iconic styling and nicknamed 'shark nose' the motor was very much the symbol of the BMW range after being introduced in 1978. Kyle's visit took an unexpected turn when he stumbled upon Brian himself who revealed his hopes for the future. He said: "Brian has full intentions of one day being able to restore this high car collection, but given his age of 70+, I highly doubt he will get around to restoring all the cars and fire trucks. "He has been victim to some of the cars being smashed to bits by youths."
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Bumblebee 1000's Talladega Nights roadtrip raises €231,458 for Little Blue Heroes charity
BUMBLEBEE 1000 came, we saw, and we conquered, plus we raised €231,458 for the Little Blue Heroes charity. Our latest supercar roadtrip, Talladega Nights, took place over the weekend and this was our biggest event to date with over 100 vehicles taking part. Advertisement 9 RED ALERT: The LaFerrari was a very rare sight on Irish roads so as you can imagine this €3m hypercar was a massive hit with spectators Credit: Jacob Liggett 9 THE FAST AND THE LUXURIOUS: Audi R8 V10 arriving with a beautiful Rolls Royce Cullinan following closely behind Credit: Jacob Liggett 9 FLAME THROWER: This 1,100bhp Nissan R35 GT-R shoots massive flamse for fun Credit: Jacob Liggett On the start line at Barberstown Castle we had one of the fastest and most expensive hypercars in the world — a 1,600bhp Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. This Bugatti, worth over €5million, is a limited-edition variant of the Chiron that has an incredible top speed of 490.484kph. And taking part in the full roadtrip was a 950bhp LaFerrari, one of only 499 in the world, that's powered by a 6.3-litre V12 and uses F1-derived tech. It was a sight to behold to see this stunning red €3m hypercar cruising the streets of Ireland alongside other beautiful Ferraris like the SF90, the 296 GTB, the F8 and the 458. Advertisement 9 NOT SO MELLOW YELLOW: Two amazing Lamborghini Aventadors and the one in the foreground is a super rare SVJ model Credit: Jacob Liggett 9 GO AHEAD, MAC MY DAY: Stunning McLaren 765 LT, its twin-turbo V8 produces 765bhp, making it the most powerful LT ever made Credit: Jacob Liggett 9 THERE'S THE STIG: Irish Sun Motoring Editor Darren Liggett - AKA The Ligg Credit: Jacob Liggett As always Bumblebee 1000 events raise money for the incredible Little Blue Heroes. Advertisement It is voluntarily led by Garda members, provides vital support to the families of sick kids in Ireland and now Bumblebee 1000 has raised over €840,107 for this incredible charity. I joined the action in a 727bhp M5 super saloon thanks to my friends at BMW Ireland and was dressed as the Irish Sun's tamed Motoring Editor The Ligg. But if I had a euro for every time someone commented, 'There's The Stig' as I drove by, I would have easily covered my fuel bill for the weekend. Most read in Motors Road Test And it's always fun at all the fuel stops to take selfies with all the spectators and all the wonderful Little Blue Heroes I meet along the way. Advertisement Part of our three-day road trip took us through the stunning scenery of the Ring of Kerry. The hills were literally alive with the sound of supercars, and to see and hear over 100 of them roar down through Moll's Gap in sunshine was breathtaking. And I'm sure the thousands who turned out to see their favourite cars were blown away with the sheer amount of rare machines like the limited edition Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 63. It's so rare there are only 63 of them made, and the amazing silver model on the trip was also right-hand drive — only a handful of them are in existence. Advertisement 9 MOUNTAIN MADNESS: On Saturday the hills were alive to the sound of supercars as Bumblebee took on the Ring of Kerry and stunning scenery through Moll's Gap Credit: Jacob Liggett 9 BEEM MACHINES: BMWs were out in force with M3s, M4s including a rare M4 CS model, pictured above, and at least nine M5s Credit: Jacob Liggett 9 THE MAGIC NUMBERS; Stunning Lamborghini Aventador 63 is one of only 63 in the world Credit: Jacob Liggett The finish lines on a Bumblebee 1000 road trip always draw the biggest crowds and on Friday at the Neil Armstrong Way in Kerry the turnout was incredible. Advertisement While on Saturday at the Lewis Road Car Park in Killarney, the whole town turned out to see us arrive and join in the party atmosphere. But we saved the best to last as on Sunday when we pulled into the Portlaoise Plaza it was packed with spectators who got to see the finest collection of supercars ever in Ireland at one time. Read more on the Irish Sun For more info head over to or find them on , Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Advertisement
