BMW M5 production has come to an end.
In its outgoing form, BMW produced 20,548 M5 units in both saloon and Touring guises, which makes it the most successful M5 in 26 years of its existence.
Read Autocar's Alpina B5 first drive
The saloon was by far the most successful of the two body shapes; only 1025 Tourings were made and a Touring model will not be produced when BMW launches its new M5.
The outgoing M5 was powered by a 5.0-litre V10 and achieved a 0-60mph time of just 4.6sec in its Autocar road test. Its top speed was capped at 155mph, although BMW claimed it could go 205mph de-restricted.
Read Autocar's BMW M5 road test
The new M5 will be powered by the twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 taken from the X5 M and X6 M and has also been used in Alpina’s own hot 5-series, the B5 Biturbo. It is set to go on sale in 2011.
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Re: BMW M5 production ends
Jag XFR can do about 205 on 503bhp. Don't understand why they limit the XKR to 174.
Re: BMW M5 production ends
507bhp is a lot but can anybody else think of a car that had"only" 500brake but could do 205mph? I can't, the nearest is the Ferrari F40.
Re: BMW M5 production ends
I prefer the ordinary E60 in M Sport trim. You can tell when you're looking at an M5, anyway - no front foglamps, for a start. Then there are the slatted front wings, the differently-shaped door mirrors, the four exhaust tips, the M5 badges...
Also, the whole point of the M5 is that it's a rocketship that looks like a sales manager's saloon. It's supposed to be understated.