With 40 years of history under its belt, the legendary high-performance sedan is entering its seventh model generation.
The world premiere of the new BMW M5 will take place at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England in July 2024, with production beginning in the same month. The worldwide market launch - including in South Africa - will start in the fourth quarter of 2024 .
What’s new?
The executive model from BMW M GmbH now has an electrified drive system for the first time and two other aspects that matter, are a 0 to 100 km claimed time of only 3.5 seconds and the all-wheel-drive system.
Engine:
The M HYBRID drive system in the new BMW M5 brings a 4.4-litre V8 engine with classical high-revving character together with an electric motor linked to an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission.
The combustion engine benefits from M TwinPower Turbo technology and develops 430 kW and peak torque of 750 Nm. The maximum output of the electric motor is 145 kW to give a combined output of 535 kW. It has nominal torque of 280 Nm, but a pre-gearing stage allows effective torque at the transmission input to be increased to 450 Nm.
Hybrid system:
In all-electric operating mode, the new BMW M5 can hit speeds of up to 140 km/h. The high-voltage battery located low in the car’s underbody has 18.6 kWh of usable energy, enabling an electric range of 67 – 69 kilometres in the WLTP cycle. The Combined Charging Unit of the new BMW M5 allows AC charging at up to 7.4 kW.
Exterior:
The power delivery and performance served up by the new BMW M5 are accompanied by a new interpretation of the high-performance car design for which M is renowned.
Prominent wheel arch and side skirt extensions, the sculptural front apron and model-specific surfacing around the C-pillar – including an embossed “M5” logo for the Hofmeister kink – help to differentiate it more clearly than ever from the BMW 5 Series Sedan.
Interior:
As well as the M-specific control panel on the centre console, the progressive sports car cockpit of the new BMW M5 also contains a newly designed, flat-bottomed M leather steering wheel with illuminated M buttons, M multifunction seats with a wide range of electric adjustment and the BMW Curved Display.
Also playing their part in the exclusive interior ambience are the standard Merino leather trim, the BMW Interaction Bar, four-zone air conditioning, heated front seats, ambient lighting with M-specific interior lighting, including Welcome Animation, and the panoramic glass sunroof.
While the South African specification is yet to be confirmed, a much wider selection of standard and optional systems for automated driving and parking compared to what was offered in the previous model takes assurance and comfort in day-to-day driving to a new level.
All-wheel drive:
The power generated by the combustion engine and electric motor is channelled to the road via the all-wheel-drive system M xDrive, whose rear-biased set-up is particularly pronounced in 4WD Sport mode.
However, the driver can also select 2WD mode. This sends drive exclusively to the rear wheels with the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system switched off, which will appeal to experienced drivers.
This further developed iteration of M xDrive – like the electronically controlled Active M Differential at the rear axle – is tailored specially to the performance characteristics of the M HYBRID drive system.
The Mazda brand has gained a solid footing in the Lowveld thanks to the dedicated customer care and service provided by Mazda Nelspruit to owners of the legacy Japanese brand in this part of the country over many decades.
GWM South Africa has introduced a new 3.0 litre turbodiesel engine across its line-up, fitting it to both the P500 bakkie and the Tank 500 SUV. The P500 becomes the first vehicle in the range to receive the new powertrain, while the Tank 500 gains a diesel alternative to its existing HEV derivative.
Affordability is driving a structural shift in South Africa’s vehicle market, with SUVs gaining significant ground as consumers increasingly seek competitively priced, well-equipped vehicles.
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GWM South Africa has introduced a new 3.0 litre turbodiesel engine across its line-up, fitting it to both the P500 bakkie and the Tank 500 SUV. The P500 becomes the first vehicle in the range to receive the new powertrain, while the Tank 500 gains a diesel alternative to its existing HEV derivative.
Subaru’s new Outback will reach South Africa in the final quarter of 2026, introducing fresh styling, updated technology and a Wilderness derivative to the line-up.
Hyundai Automotive South Africa has introduced the EXTER Premium 1.2 Cargo panel van, a compact light-commercial vehicle designed for small businesses and fleet operators.
