BMW M5 2018: Everything you need to know

BMW has finally taken the wraps off its new M5 super saloon, two months after fans were given a glimpse of the car in the upcoming Need for Speed: Payback video game.

The M5 is a performance variant of the 5 Series, featuring a powerful V8 engine and a stiffer chassis for buyers looking for a saloon that can perform both on and off the circuit. It's the first M5 to come with an all-wheel drive system. This helps the car achieve a zero to 62mph time of just 3.9secs.

The M5 is due to go on sale for just under £90,000, with deliveries expected early next year. Until then, here's everything you need to know about the new super saloon:

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Design

While the new M5 appears to have a similar silhouette to the outgoing model, its design is much curvier and more muscular than its predecessor. Autocar says it's also 2.2ins longer than the old M5 and 0.5ins wider.

BMW has given the new M5 the same angular vent styling as the compact M2 coupe, which appears to channel air towards the large front brakes. Between these vents sits an air duct that is significantly larger than the base 5 Series, although the performance saloon retains the same signature kidney-style grille and LED headlights as the base car.

A conventional pair of air intakes sits on either side of the front wings, a design cue that has appeared on M-badged BMWs since the M3 coupe appeared in 2000.

At the back, the new M5 boasts a quad-exhaust layout that is found on either side of the car's carbon fibre diffuser. A small carbon fibre lip features on the boot lid to improve stability at higher speeds.

Engine and performance

A revised version of the old car's 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine can be found under the bonnet, says Evo, and this produces 592bhp and 553lb-ft of torque. BMW has achieved this by tweaking the turbocharges and upgrading the lubrication and cooling systems.

The car also comes with a four-wheel drive system, the magazine says, helping it go from zero to 62mph in 3.4secs – 0.9secs faster than the outgoing model. Top speed is limited to 155mph, much like most German performance saloons.

Power is challenged to the all-wheel drive system through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, says AutoExpress, that can be altered using BMW's Drivelogic system. Different modes can be chosen to make the gear changes feel smoother for driving on the road, or harsher for those looking to take their car on to a race track.

The chassis's rigidity has also been improved, thanks to a new "aluminium cross brace over the rear axle", according to the magazine. Vented disc brakes come as standard, while carbon ceramic versions are available as an optional extra.

Interior

CarBuyer says the new M5 gets "sports seats with lots of adjustability" and an "M-specific digital dashboard display". A red start-top button sits at the top of the centre console, while an "M-branded gear selector" with red highlights sets it apart from the regular 5 Series saloon.

Aside from a few M badges around the cockpit, the M5 retains the 5 Series's long dashboard and driver-facing centre console. Settings are controlled using a mixture of touchscreen surfaces and physical buttons, while a pair of red M buttons are found on the steering wheel to engage the car's performance modes.

Price and release

Prices for the new M5 are expected to start at around £89,640, says Autocar, with UK deliveries due in February next year.