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BMW has finally confirmed that it developed an M5 convertible 20 years ago, but canned it a week before it was due to be launched due to sales concerns.

The long-rumoured car was shown to a select group of journalists at an event celebrating 25 years of the BMW M5, and autocar.co.uk has obtained exclusive photos.

Hi-res BMW M5 convertible pictures

BMW confirmed that the car, wh...Read the full article

Okay, so it probably wouldn't have been a sales success, but it is a good looking car.

 

TegTypeR:

Okay, so it probably wouldn't have been a sales success, but it is a good looking car.

Yeah it is. They should have done a limited run. It would have sold well in the Arab states and California at least and a 5 Series would have been more practical and comfy than a 3 Series Conv

In the third picture, it looks like there was also an E39 M5 Touring cancelled as well.

Somewhat misleading headline.

bwdrew:

In the third picture, it looks like there was also an E39 M5 Touring cancelled as well.

That will be tomorrow's story on autocar.co.uk, thereby allowing them to run another non-story about an M5 which doesn't exist to follow on today's story and ysterday's 'M5 CSL'.  Hopefully there are not too many more hidden variations on the M5 thing lurking around in Munich or else we will be here until Christmas.

What next?  'Scoop!  Ford Sierra convertible revealed?'  Maybe Ford did a styling exercise in the '80s as well.  Probably worth a story...

disco.stu:

Somewhat misleading headline.

bwdrew:

In the third picture, it looks like there was also an E39 M5 Touring cancelled as well.

That will be tomorrow's story on autocar.co.uk, thereby allowing them to run another non-story about an M5 which doesn't exist to follow on today's story and ysterday's 'M5 CSL'.  Hopefully there are not too many more hidden variations on the M5 thing lurking around in Munich or else we will be here until Christmas.

What next?  'Scoop!  Ford Sierra convertible revealed?'  Maybe Ford did a styling exercise in the '80s as well.  Probably worth a story...

I agree, typical Autocar trying to make a story out of nothing - perhaps they should actually try writing articles that are relevant and, if possible factual.  An M5 drop-top from 20 years - stop the press!  Not to mention the recent story of eight new Porsches - most of the article was clearly speculation and guesswork. Rubbish.

 Away and chase yourselves.

Some of us are interested in seeing projects and "what ifs" that didn't quite make it.

It is worthy of print and reminds us of a time when convertibles looked good.

They catered for other tastes today with the Suzuki SX4 saloon.

They sold a Touring version of the E34 M5 in left-hand-drive only.

The convertible would have been interesting, but the saloon version of the E34 M5 is the pinnacle of BMW design in my opinion. Not even the original M3 or CSL holds the same cachet. The iconic Q-car.

I've seen some people moaning about Autocar writing this, and I have moaned myself about aftermarket muck being used as filler, but I'm pleased that the magazine includes articles about the history of car production.

R32:

I agree, typical Autocar trying to make a story out of nothing - perhaps they should actually try writing articles that are relevant and, if possible factual.

So you think that all articles should be exclusively relevant and factual? How very dull. What about a third category – 'interesting'? Or a fourth – 'unusual'? Or a fifth – 'intriguing'? Open your eyes man. You're being educated here. Preferring nothing over something that doesn't fit into peculiarly limited parameters is a bit bonkers.

tonym911:

So you think that all articles should be exclusively relevant and factual? How very dull.

My issue is that it is being misrepresented as "news", with headlines that are clearly misleading. 

I am interested in the history of the M5, but as a single feature article rather than several "news" stories spread over, so far, almost a week (there is another one today).  Surely if the journos have been invited by BMW to an event in Germany to celebrate the M5 then they should have some genuine news (or at least conjecture, rumour, innuendo) about the future direction of the M5 - real, genuine journalism rather than simply re-arranging a BMW press release.

disco.stu:

real, genuine journalism

That's a tautology innit? But seriously – or rather, not seriously – isn't this apples and oranges stuff? Seems that the only real criticism here is the categorisation of this story as news. If that's its only crime then maybe we should lighten up a bit? Only exceptionally busy people (by definition, not forum folk) could genuinely complain about having their time wasted by incorrectly flagged-up stories. And, be honest, you've got more knowledge now about the M5 than you had before. So you're ahead. No?