M5: BMW reinvents the fast four door!

BMW’s famous M-division is set to redefine the fast four-door with its forthcoming M5. Due in 2012, the big news is it will ditch the current car’s strato-revving naturally aspirated V10 for a twin-turbo V8 packing a 430kW and 720Nm punch!

The M5 adopts the smaller, turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 and a raft of cutting-edge tech as a means to slash consumption, which insiders say will improve by as much as 30 percent. Not only that, the bahn-storming 2012 M5 will comfortably outsprint its predecessor. Packing some 200Nm of extra twist, word is it will have the muscle to demolish zero to 100km/h in 4.4sec.

Performance and efficiency enhancing measures also include a beefy seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, a stop-start system, a host of smart aero and some truly clever state-of-the-art fuel-saving tech…

Not only a glimpse into BMW’s future, the next M5 also hints at the design and technology local muscle car makers FPV and HSV could adopt for future GT and GTS flagships.

For all the details on BMW’s next M5 plus all the latest automotive news and views from around the globe, grab the June issue of Wheels, on sale now.