BMW just revealed the new M5 modelAnd while it’s significantly more powerful than the car it replaces, the new M5 is also heavier. A lot heavier. With a plug-in hybrid system borrowed from BMW XMIt weighs a whopping 5,390 pounds, nearly 1,000 pounds heavier than its predecessor. That’s not ideal for a car that’s supposed to be a sports car, but as Frank van Meelhead of BMW’s M division, told CarBuzz recentlyAdding a heavy-duty plug-in hybrid system is the only way to keep the M5 alive.
According to van Meel, BMW isn’t ready to make the M5 fully electric yet, so to comply with emissions regulations, it has to go hybrid. And while the 43-mile range won’t get you far on a long road trip, it will be plenty for everyday driving.[An electric M5] “It takes more than just the battery. You need the whole architecture, the electronics, the high-voltage system,” he told CarBuzz. “So this is really the best we can do right now.”
Even though the new M5 is incredibly heavy and also a hybrid, van Meel insists it still feels like an M5, saying, “You don’t notice the difference,” when asked about driving in electric mode. “It’s the perfect combination of thrilling driving dynamics and refined everyday usability,” he told CarBuzz.
While those of us in the US may still be concerned about the M5’s weight, residents of other countries will likely appreciate the tax break the hybrid system brings them. With CO2 emissions rated at 50g/km according to WLTP, in some countries the M5 will be More affordable than the gas-only M3.
