EXCLUSIVE!
BMW is all set to showcase its new M5 saloon at the 11th Auto Expo in January 2012.
Like all previous M5s, the new car's styling is subtle but aggressive in its details, most notably the lower air intakes – three gaping ducts to flow cool air into the radiator, oil cooler and turbochargers. 19-inch alloy wheels come as standard fitment.
The M5 features a twin-turbo, 4.4-litre V8 that offers 552bhp and 69.4kgm of max torque, and the sports saloon can hit 100kph in 4.4 seconds, and 200kph in 13sec (manufacturer’s claims).
The new M5 gets a power boost of 10 percent and torque figures are up by 30 percent compared to the previous-generation, V10-powered E60 M5.
The transmission is a seven-speed, dual-clutch unit with steering-wheel-mounted paddle-shifters, which drives through a new Active M differential with electronically-controlled, multi-plate, limited-slip differential. Depending on the driving situation the diff can lock between 0 and 100 per cent, says BMW.
An M-specific chassis set-up includes M-tuned Servotronic steering, cockpit-adjustable dynamic damping and stability control with an ‘M Dynamic’ setting.
Steering wheel buttons that can be programmed with chassis, engine and diff settings can now memorise two individual set-ups as compared to the single setting option on the earlier M Drive button.
The all-new BMW M5 will be priced at Rs 99 lakh (est. ex-showroom) and will be launched in India at the Auto Expo 2012.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
