The BMW M5 variant can rocket from zero to 100km/hr in just three seconds
BMW’s M models are high-performance by definition, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement. Which is why the automaker will release an even more powerful variant of the M5 later this year.
Unveiled on Tuesday, the 2022 M5 CS is a lighter and more muscular version of the high-performance sedan – even with its souped up Competition package. It’s also a limited-edition model that will only be available for one year and only select markets.
The M5 doesn’t lack of power. The base model features a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 that delivers 600hp and 750Nm of torque. But the marque’s engineers have been able to take the mill and squeeze in an extra 27 horses (10 more than the M5 Competition). While some purists will roll their eyes at the lack of a manual transmission, the car’s acceleration numbers should more than make up for its exclusion. BMW claims the CS can rocket from zero to 100km/hr in just three seconds, which is 0.3 seconds quicker than the M5 Competition and easily makes it the automaker’s quickest production car, according to CNET Roadshow. A top speed of 305km/hr isn’t too shabby, either.
But credit for the car’s lightning-quick acceleration time also belongs to its reduced weight. The CS weighs a full 70kg less than the M5 Competition. This is mainly due to new carbon-fibre elements, including the hood, front splitter, rear diffuser, rear splitter and mirror housings, as well as all four seats in the cabin. Engineers also cut down on the amount of sound deadening material throughout the car. These tweaks allowed the car to shed some serious pounds, all without having to sacrifice its all-wheel-drive system. And if you’re worried about the reduced weight changing how the car feels, fret not because BMW has adjusted the car’s springs and dampers accordingly.
From the outside, the CS doesn’t look all that different from the M5 or M5 Competition, but it does feature several striking gold bronze accents, including on the kidney grilles, badging and forged 20-inch wheels. Inside, you’ll find special CS badging, illuminated M5 logos, Alcantara suede, the company’s latest iDrive 7 infotainment suite and a digital gauge cluster that’ll display even more info than the standard M5.
For the time being, BMW only plans to offer the M5 CS as part of the 2022 model year and only in the North America, UK, Germany and Russia markets. This exclusivity, along with a laundry list of performance and design upgrades, won’t come cheap. The sporty sedan will start at €180,400 (S$289,462) in its home market of Germany, which is a staggering double of what you can expect to pay for the base M5, which starts at €91,900 (S$147,459).
This story first appeared on Robb Report US
