BMW M5 (G90) – engine, gearbox and technical highlights

The big news, of course, is the G90’s adoption of plug-in hybrid power. Why hybrid? For one, it potentially extends the model’s life, as opposition to the EU’s 2035 outright ban on ICE car sales grows. And, as explained by BMW M boss Frank Van Meel, if you’re going to go to the trouble and weight of a mild hybrid, you might as well go the whole hog and have some proper plug-in EV ability. 

Thus BMW’s familiar 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 works with an 18.6kWh battery pack and 197bhp electric motor integrated into the eight-speed automatic gearbox, delivering up to 42 miles of electric range. The heavier M5 Touring (codenamed G99) falls one mile short of the saloon’s e-range. 

Speaking of weight, the M5 has a lot of it. At 2435kg it’s 540kg heavier than the outgoing M5 Competition and over 600kg more than our favourite F90, the M5 CS. The Touring, meanwhile, is a 2550kg car. To manage all that mass the M5 has a comprehensively reworked chassis, including wider tracks, staggered 20- and 21-inch wheels and tyres, and optional carbon ceramic brakes. Drive is sent to all four wheels through an M xDrive system with an active rear differential. 

The M5’s suspension kinematics are bespoke, and its M Servotronic variable ratio steering rack is rigidly mounted to the subframe for more accuracy and feel. M-tuned adaptive dampers are standard fit, so too is rear wheel steering, which can turn the rear wheels by up to 1.5 degrees. 

Typical of an M car, there’s a huge variety of parameters to adjust if you delve into the M5’s drive mode menu. The dampers, steering, four-wheel drive system, regenerative braking and even the feel of the brake pedal itself can be tweaked, along with the energy strategy and delivery from the hybrid powertrain.