2006-12-12 06:38:23Mike O’Lee
BMW M5
It took the mid-size sedan from the BMW’s family, the 5-series, stuffed an F-1 derived V10 engine with output of 500 horses, fitting it with the F-1 derived 7-speed SMG transmission, and let it loose. This 4-door monster can easily go through the famous Nurburging North Loop, dubbed the Green Hell, under 8 minutes. This score easily embarrassed many so called super cars.
Besides the big V10 engine and the tricky transmission, the M division also fine tuned the chassis, suspension, and the aero work of the car. It is capable reaching 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Top speed is 205 mph. Cruising on the highway at 120 mph barely scratches its potential, the monster fully awakes at speed beyond 170mph.
To fully explore this monster’s potentials, we need to take it to a race course. Its race car gene is fully on display when blasting it through a race course. The sedan felt smaller the faster it go. It felt more like a 500lb Go-Kart than the 3861-lb four-door sedan it actually is at the limit. The feed back is crisp and immediate; the course condition is fully transmitted to the driver through the steering. This is pure magic.
Besides the big V10 engine and the tricky transmission, the M division also fine tuned the chassis, suspension, and the aero work of the car. It is capable reaching 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Top speed is 205 mph. Cruising on the highway at 120 mph barely scratches its potential, the monster fully awakes at speed beyond 170mph.
To fully explore this monster’s potentials, we need to take it to a race course. Its race car gene is fully on display when blasting it through a race course. The sedan felt smaller the faster it go. It felt more like a 500lb Go-Kart than the 3861-lb four-door sedan it actually is at the limit. The feed back is crisp and immediate; the course condition is fully transmitted to the driver through the steering. This is pure magic.