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Video: Clarkson’s Powered up DVD chooses BMW 1M and 535d as Best Cars of 2011
Following up on the teaser trailers for Jeremy Clarkson’s Powered up DVD, Top Gear’s main man has released another video with a bit more action than the first two. In this video, Clarkson goes through some of his favorite cars of the year and his top pick is surprisingly not a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, even though a Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante did take third place on his preference list. Instead, the British star has chosen one of the most amazing cars launched this year by BMW: the 1-Series M Coupe. Usually not a fan of BMW’s, Clarkson has appointed the 1M as the “Most Fun Car Of The Year.” The 1M pulled ahead of many of the classic favorites in the auto world, including the Ferrari FF and 458 Italia, the aforementioned Lamborghini Gallardo Performante, the Nissan Skyline, and the McLaren MP4-12C. The new BMW 535d Touring M Sport also got a spot on his "favorites" list, grabbing the top spot as "2011 Car of the Year."
Lexus wants to bring the pain to BMW with a GS-F rival for the M5
  Apart from being one of the most awesome supercars on the planet, the Lexus LF-A taught us something important about Lexus. Toyota’s luxury division is trying to shed away its conservative persona in favor of being seen as a harbinger of high-performance cars. Now it appears they’re targeting more than just the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the world. They’ve also got an eye towards performance vehicles like the BMW M5, which only adds to Lexus’ growing reputation as a giant slayer. According to Autocar, the Japanese automaker is planning on building a high-performance version of the GS-F, one that will carry a tuned version of the LF-A’s 4.8-liter V10 engine and will have at least 450 horsepower on tap. Those figures still fall short of the M5’s 550-horsepower output, but it’s still what people will consider as high-performance. Besides, you can expect Lexus to make up for the relative lack of output by packing all sorts of technology in the car. Lexus’ intention of catering more to the world of high-performance cars was busted open with the release of the LF-A supercar. After seeing what they’re truly capable of, we’re not going to put anything past these guys. If they want to go after cars like the BMW M5, then by all means, more power to them. 2013 Lexus GS 350 F-Sport pictured above BMW M5 shows new 0-60 mph sprint time: 3.7 seconds
 BMW spent a great deal of time bragging about their new M5, only to disappoint with an announced 0-60 mph sprint time of 4.4 seconds. Not too shabby in comparison to other high performance sports cars out there, but hell, the new Audi S8 has a reported time of 4.2 seconds and is considerably larger than the M5. Lucky for BMW, Car And Driver has expert drivers that were able to drive the new sports sedan the way it was meant to be driven. With the help of these drivers, the BMW M5 has been able to clock a 0-60 mph sprint in 3.7 seconds. Eat that, BMW! Maybe BMW didn’t realize what their car could really do? If that’s the case, then they need to buy these guys a beer or something. Now they can truly say that their sports sedan is better than the Mercedes E63 AMG which sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. During that same test, the BMW M5 also covered the quarter mile in 12.0 seconds.
Video: BMW M5 F10 pushed to its limits
We have seen lots of review video for the BMW M5, but for sure this one is one of the most impressive ones. The video was shot by Nino Karotta for Totalcar.hu and even if the video is in Hungarian you will most likely enjoy every second of it! The new generation M5 features a high-revving 4.4-liter V8 engine with an M TwinPower Turbo package that delivers an impressive 560 hp at 6,000 – 7,000 rpm and a peak torque of 502 lb-ft from 1,500 rpm. The model will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and, when the speed limiter is removed, is capable of hitting an impressive top speed of 190 mph. So, if you want to see how this car sprints from 0 to 155 mph in just a few seconds watch this video! No AWD or wagon version for the BMW M5
During a recent interview with Albert Biermann, Head of Product Development for BMW at the German automaker’s high performance M division, Autoblog has learned some interesting stuff about BMW’s future plans regarding the M5. First, when asked about an all-wheel-drive version for the M5 he said there is no chance to see it, at least not with the current generation. However, BMW is considering this option, but for future models. "There might come a point with torque [output] where you need all-wheel drive." Also he said that an electronic torque vectoring differential will only be offered for the X models; at least for now. As for a wagon version for the M5 he said no one more time. And that’s because with the previous model BMW only sold 1,056 units worldwide. That’s the reason why you shouldn’t expect a M3 wagon also. But he did came with a good news for the US market: the M5 will be offered in here with both seven-speed dual-clutch ’box and a six-speed manual. At least for now, because Biermann said: "I don’t know how long we’ll be able to keep doing this, but at some point, we’ll just have to say ’no’".
Forza Motorsport giving away a 2012 BMW M5
While the rest of the country is feeling the pinch of what may be another impending recession, video game developers apparently have no problems in giving away sports cars. In what appears to be a response to Electronic Arts’ generosity, Microsoft, the developer of the Forza Motorsport video game franchise, is prepared to hand the keys of a real 2012 BMW M5 to a lucky gamer. Since the new M5 can be seen in all its mug on the cover of Forza 4, it only seemed appropriate that Microsoft would be choosing the car as its contest prize. In fact, Microsoft went as far as teaming up with BMW themselves to create a virtual contest within the game called the ’BMW M5 Forza Cup.’ The objective is pretty simple, too. All you need to do is post the fastest virtual lap time of the M5. In a statement released recently, Microsoft went with the specifics as to how gamers can join the contest. “This competition allows gamers who have signed up as members of the Xbox Live online community or at www.bmw.de/forza4 to push for the quickest time in the new BMW M5. Visitors to selected BMW branches, BMW Welt in Munich and the BMW showroom in Berlin will also have the chance to enter the competition. The 16 finalists will lock horns in the final of the BMW M5 Forza Cup at BMW Welt on November 26 2011.” The winner, of course, will walk home with a brand new 2012 BMW M5. Game on, people!
2012 BMW 5-Series M Diesel
It’s been rumored for a long time, but until recently, it was all just that: rumors. But now that the covers have been pulled and an announcement is merely imminent, it appears that BMW will soon be releasing a diesel-powered version of the 2012 M5. The full details of the car have not yet been announced, but it’s all formality from here. The high-powered model is expected to carry a 3.0-liter diesel engine that will predictably carry less horsepower than the gasoline version. On the flip side, the torque output is expected to be significantly higher and, as a result, there’s a pretty big chance that the model will only come with all-wheel drive. There are plenty more details about the car that need to be confirmed, and we’ll be on top of them as soon as BMW officially introduces the car. For now, we did our best to paint a clear picture of the M5 Diesel, or whatever name it’s going to have. Find out more about the 5-Series M Diesel after the jump. Full story The Nicest BMW E34 M5 on the Planet Finds Itself on eBay
BMW built the E34 series M5 from 1989 through 1995 and, in the eyes of some, it remains the purest example of what BMW intended when they designed the M5. The E34 was the last BMW M5 to be built by hand, not on an assembly line, and it was rumored that BMW’s test drivers could determine the team that built each car by its subtle difference in performance. Plain on the outside, nothing aside from the subtle M5 badging said “high performance”, and the E34 M5 remains one of the finest Q-Ships ever built for that very reason. U.S. spec cars came only with a 3.5-liter straight-six engine, good for 311 horsepower and mated to a five-speed manual transmission. That may seem tame by today’s standards, but it was good enough to get the big sedan from 0 to 60 in just 6.4 seconds, on its way to an electronically-limited top speed of 155 miles per hour. Read more on this 1991 BMW M5 after the jump. Full story 2011 Edo M5 Dark Edition
The German tuner Edo Competition is usually focusing on models from Ferrari or Lamborghini, but this time they came with the M5 Dark Edition - a 555 HP BMW M5 wagon that wants to prove that even family cars can be fun. The most important part of he tuning package is of course the engine update. The tuner is offering a recalibrated ECU, high-flow air filters and catalytic converters as well as a newly developed high-performance exhaust system that will increase the engine’s output from 500 to 555 HP and the peak torque from 384 lbs-ft to 413 lbs-ft. Also, after removing the speed limiter the car can hit a top speed of 190 mph. The 0 to 60 mph sprint is also made 0.5 seconds faster (4.2 seconds). The package also includes a modified front and the new rear skirt, a new rear wing and a new set of 20" light alloy wheels with painted centers and Dunlop tires. The interior combined carbon fiber with precious leather, making the M5 a very elegant and enjoyable car. BMW M5 laps Nurburgring in 7:55
Just a few days after its official launch, the 2012 BMW M5 has just become the fastest sedan around the Nurburgring race track with an impressive time of 7:55. With this new time, the M5 will be placed above models like the Porsche Panamera Turbo (7:56) and the Cadillac CTS-V (7:59). This new lap time also matches the ’Ring time of the Ferrari F430. The BMW M5 is powered by a high-revving 4.4-liter V8 engine with an M TwinPower Turbo package that delivers an impressive 560 HP at 6,000 – 7,000 rpm and a peak torque of 502 lb-ft from 1,500 rpm. The model will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and, when the speed limiter is removed, is capable of hitting an impressive top speed of 190 mph. The record lap was completed by a BMW driver, but don’t put it in the record books just yet. This is actually an unofficial time, surely to be followed by the real thing shortly. | featured reviews: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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