Development of the next-generation BMW M5 has moved to Scandinavia ahead of its expected debut at the Frankfurt motor show this autumn.
Replacing the outgoing car’s naturally aspirated V10, a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 is expected to produce around 570bhp in the new 'F10M' M5, comfortably eclipsing the current car’s 500bhp and offering considerably more torque because of its pair of turbochargers.
See the spy pics of the BMW M5 in winter testing
In the X5 M and X6 M the same engine produces 501lb ft; that’s 117lb ft more than the outgoing M5 can manage. The hottest 5-series currently available is Alpina’s B5 Biturbo — but while the specialist manufacturer’s offering also uses a twin-turbo V8, its inlet and exhaust systems differ from the likely set-up in the M5.
The M5 is expected to get a dual-clutch transmission instead of the B5’s eight-speed auto, too, and BMW’s product will feature stop-start in a bid to improve fuel economy and CO2 emissions.
See pics of the new M5 drifting at the Nurburgring
The next M5 is tentatively tipped to appear at the Frankfurt in the autumn — although its debut, like the outgoing car’s, may yet be made in the form of a design study instead of the full production model. Sales of the M5 are expected to commence before 2011 is out.
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