2012 BMW M5

What's New for 2012

The BMW M5 will be fully redesigned for 2012.

Introduction

Expected in late 2011, the 2012 BMW M5 represents the next iteration of the manufacturer's sublime Motorsport-tuned performance luxury sedan. The fresh makeover will likely offer up a deeper front airdam, larger air intakes, more pronounced body side creases, extended side skirting and updated lightweight wheels. Other more obvious clues for casual onlookers should include the large quad exhaust pipes out back, along with a new quarter-panel badging treatment.

Those larger air intakes are probably necessary to feed the heart of the new beast: a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 supplanting the high-revving 500-horse V10 powering the current M5. The same motor in the current X5/X6M models puts out 555 horsepower, so we expect the company will see fit to bump that toward 600 horses in the 2011 BMW M5 while also managing to make it run cleaner and with greater fuel efficiency and performance than the V10.

Complementing this new power plant will likely be BMW's M double-clutch transmission (DCT) in place of the less refined single-clutch SMG setup in current use. An extra gear is rumored over the M3's seven-speed setup, but either way it will be a welcome improvement to address one of our few criticisms.

All in all, we expect greater refinement, sophistication and performance from this legendary -- and, some say, ultimate -- driver's sedan. Check back later for more details and a complete test report once the 2012 BMW M5 hits the road.