2021 BMW M5 (Facelift) Makes International Debut

BMW M5 is one of the most iconic sports sedans in the world. It was first introduced in 1984, and every iteration of the car since has been consistently been BMW’s best performance car. The current version is the fifth-generation model, called the F90, which was launched back in 2017. Now, BMW has introduced a facelift (Model Year 2021) for the M5, complete with some significant changes over the previous version.

The primary change in the MY2021 BMW M5 is in the aesthetics. The car gets a revised front fascia, with sleeker headlamps and L-shaped LED DRLS. The front bumper now features redesigned air vents as well, and the signature kidney grille is a single-piece unit now. The side profile is the same as before, although the seven twin-spoke design for the 19-inch alloy wheels in new. The roof has been blacked out.  At the rear, we see a new pair of LED taillamps. The lower portion of the rear bumper has been blacked-out, along with the rear diffuser. Just like the previous model, the 2021 M5 sports quad exhaust tips, two on either side of the diffuser. Overall, the new design is much more aggressive than any BMW M5 before.

The 2021 BMW M5 still has the same engine and power output as before. Its 4.4-litre, twin-turbocharged, V8 petrol motor produces 600 PS and 750 Nm of peak power and torque, respectively. If you seek even more thrills, there is a ‘Competition’ version that ups the power to 625 PS. There is only one transmission option on offer- an 8-speed M Steptronic. The car comes standard with BMW’s xDrive AWD system. Performance is quite impressive as well. 0 to 100 kmph only takes 3.4 seconds (3.3 seconds with the Competition package). Top speed is limited to 250 kmph as standard, although you can raise the limiter to 305 kmph with the ‘M driver package’.

The equipment list is also quite impressive. The M5 offers BMW’s latest iDrive 7.0 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface. There are multiple driving modes (Comfort, Sport, Sport+, and Track) and you can also customise different aspects of the car, like the weight of the steering wheel. The instrument cluster is a fully digital unit. The price of the 2021 BMW M5 has not been revealed yet, but we expected to be around Rs. 1.5 crore mark when it launches in India next year. Upon launch, it will compete directly against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class AMG and Audi RS6/RS7.