Performance car of the year 2022 Finalist: BMW M5 Competition
The BMW M5 Competition was our last Performance car of the year. For very good reason too. It’s the quickest car we ever tested in over a quarter-century. Pcoty 2019 in fact twice beat the 3-second mark in two different tests, for its regular test and then at the Pcoty do, a few months later.
M HAS PUT 5 UNDER THE KNIFE
The apparently humble four-door has since benefited a mid-life nip and tuck. Would this bronze Competition would prove even quicker? First the facts. You may notice the new squared off black kidneys atop a re-profiled bumper. L-shape LED tubes Matrix headlights a fresh rear apron, diffuser 3D LED taillights and four new exhaust tips do duty at the back. It’s mostly blacked out. Slicker 20-inch wheels complete the changes. Sweet!
Step aboard to larger latest 12.3-inch iDrive infotainment. With two new buttons nicked from M8. To instantly kill the nannies and switch wake Track mode. The other pick your favourite engine, chassis and gearbox modes in a flash.
There’s nothing new under the bonnet. All good for a claimed 3.3 seconds to 0-100 km/h and 305 km/h top end. With this one’s optional M Driver’s Package of course. The men from M have however had a go at the M5 Competition chassis. New dampers also swiped from the M8 allegedly improve comfort by reducing body roll and yaw. And now you can choose your brake calliper colour.
M5 COMPETITION ALIGNED TO HANDLE
7 mm lower than a regular M5, Competition runs a sportier toe and camber set-up, stiffer rear anti-roll-bar and tauter engine mounts for a more ‘Competition’ feel. Albeit harsher ride. Its 248 kW per ton power to weight is ten up on the stock M5. Also thanks to an M carbon roof and aluminium bonnet.
That previous M5 Competition was the first car to break 3 seconds in our 0-100km/h test. It turned in a 2.97 second run, managed 160 km/h in 6.6 seconds and blitzed the quarter-mile in another record 10.9 seconds. At 208 km/h! Would same 460 kW and 750 Nm make this sharper new M5 Competition quicker. In a word, no. It ‘only’ managed a 3.24-second 0-100. And the rest of the numbers below .
That’s still a tenth quicker than claimed. But slower than the latest Mercedes-AMG E 63 S, which we will get to in a few days. Make no mistake — M5 Competition still thrusts you back in the seat, shoves your brain back into the cranium and your eyes aft in their sockets. Just a touch less so! Thanks of course to its all-wheel drive traction. An absolute prerequisite in this neck of the woods.
UNBEATABLE PERFORMANCE. EVEN AT 2.5 BAR
Of course, two and a half million makes the BMW M5 Competition pretty exclusive. But think of it like this: what will you pay to get to 100 km/h any quicker in any other production car in South Africa right now? We’ll leave you to ponder that one for yourself!
PERFORMANCE CAR OF THE YEAR 2022 FINALIST BMW M5 Competition Engine: 460 kW 750 Nm 4.4-litre biturbo V8 Drive: 8-speed automatic AWD TESTED: 0-100 km/h: 3.24 sec 0-160 km/h: 6.77 sec 400m: 10.9 sec @ 205km/h 80-120 km/h: 1.97 sec 120-160 km/h: 2.78 sec CLAIMED: VMax: 305 km/h Fuel: 10.8 l/100 km CO2: 243 g/km Warranty/Service: 2y unl/5y 100K km List Price: R2.4M
Performance car of the year 2022 Program Pcoty ‘22 Introduction Audi RS 6 Avant BMW M5 Competition Ford Ranger Raptor SE Jaguar I-Pace Mercedes-AMG A45 S Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Mini Cooper SE Toyota GR Yaris Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI Pcoty ‘22 Electric Shootout Pcoty ‘22 Super Hatch Shootout Pcoty ‘22 Super Saloon Shootout Pcoty '22 Top Three Pcoty ‘22 Winner