BMW’s->ke178 decision to offer a revision for the M5 is a little bit surprising for us, considering the new generation was just unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Still, it looks like the company wants to keep the M5 as fresh as all the other models in the 5 Series lineup. After being tested for a few months, the revised M5 made its world debut today and will be put on sale later in July.

Just like in the standard version, the M5 is going to receive only minor revisions on the front and rear. BMW will add in updated headlights and a new kidney grille, a new rear bumper and new graphics for the taillights.

The new M5 keeps the usual V-8 engine, but, for the first time, BMW is also offering a Competition Package that adds an extra 15 horsepower.

Updated 05/19/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.

Click past the jump to read more about the revised M5

2014 BMW M5

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 BMW M5
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 560
  • Torque: 502
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The M5 is a powerful car and it really needed no exterior updates. Still, BMW thinks it’s time to refresh its exterior look a little bit with the addition of a redesigned M kidney grille with the model designation and a double-spoke design, just like the M light alloys.

The model is offered with standard xenon headlights, but customers can also opt for the Adaptive LED Headlights, which emit a particularly bright white light generated by a pair of LED units situated horizontally in the middle of each light ring.

BMW Individual will offer, for the first time, a new range of exterior colors, including Pure Metal Silver, Pyrite Brown metallic and Frozen Blue metallic.

Interior

For the interior, the revised M5 gets a redesigned M leather steering wheel with design inspired by the double-spoke wheels. As a standard feature, BMW is offering the M5 with a Control Display, while the Touch Controller with a touch-sensitive surface is available as an option. The revised M5 is also features increased under-armrest storage compartment volume in the center console area.

BMW Individual is also offering two exclusive leather shades: Cashmere Beige and Nutmeg.

Drivetrain

Under the hood, the revised M5 keeps the usual high-revving 4.4-liter V-8 unit with M TwinPower Turbo technology that delivers a total of 560 horsepower between 6,000 and 7,000 rpm, and peak torque of 502 pound-feet between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm. The rev limiter intervenes at 7,200 rpm.

Thanks to this amazing output, the M5 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in in 4.4 seconds, to 124 mph in 13.0 seconds and top speed is limited to 155 mph. Once you remove the limiter, however, you will enjoy a speed of up to 190 mph.

Prices

The BMW M5 is priced at $93,600.

Competitors

2014 Jaguar XF-R

We’d be pretty torn to choose between the M5 and the XF-R. The new M5 has made quite an impression on us, but it lacks the elegance and the stance of the XF-R. The Jag also has a big advantage with its $83,200 price tag, while the M5 goes up to $90,200 (2013 pricing).

When compared to the M5, the XF-R is a little bit less powerful and slightly slower. A supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 that delivers a total of 510 horsepower powers this big cat, which helps get it to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Additionally, we are still unsure if Jaguar has finally overcome the quality issues that have plagued it in recent years.

2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport

Now that we have seen the next-generation Cadillac CTS, the new V version, which we assume is going to be the Vsport, is just around the corner. Only select information was released about the CTS Vsport, but it’s enough for us to make a loose opinion on it.

The Vsport is all about taking performance and luxury, and combining it in a relatively affordable package. Under its hood lies a 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine that produces 420 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. This is enough pop to get the Caddy to 60 mpg in only 4.6 seconds – 0.2 seconds slower than the Bimmer.

If you want to talk about sexiness, the M5 can’t hold a candle to the amazing redesign job GM gave the new CTS. Its body is not only elegant, but also oddly sporty in a way. The LED markers that run the front edge of the vehicle are something that we fell in love with from the moment we saw them and the hard body lines just sealed the deal. On the other hand, the M5 is just another boringly styled Bimmer in a slightly revised wrapper.

Lastly, the CTS-V was always the best-priced model in its class, as in 2013 it came in at only $63,215. We expect the Vsport to come in around the same price. Stay tuned on this model, however, as Cadillac may surprise us and release an even more powerful model bearing the more recognizable CTS-V moniker.

Conclusion

In our opinion the M5 needed no revision, but BMW's decision to refresh it a little bit is more than welcomed. It is the perfect way to keep it young and even if it received just some small improvements it looks better than ever.