2018 BMW M5 Expected to Have a 'Drift Mode'
New rumors on the 2018 BMW M5 have surfaced.
Expected to debut before the end of the year, the 2018 BMW M5 has been spied testing numerous times. There is already plenty of speculation about how BMW will be able to compete against the new Mercedes-AMG E63. We do know it will be the first all-wheel-drive BMW M5, but like the E63, it’s expected to have a “drift mode” where the driver can send all the power to the rear wheels. According to BMWBlog, the design of the new M5 will be similar to the render below, but it won’t have air breathers on the fenders. The carbon roof will be similar to the one found on the M6 Coupe, while the rear will feature the trademark M lip trunk spoiler.
SEE ALSO: Everything We Know About the 2018 BMW M5
Also expect a new 20-inch, five-spoke wheel design finished in Jet Black with silver accents. The 2018 BMW M5 will also launch with a new shade of blue called Marina Bay Blue. In terms of powertrain, the 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 engine should crank out slightly more than 600 horsepower, allowing the sedan to go zero-to-62 mph (zero-to-100 km/h) in around 3.6 seconds. But most interesting is that there will be three driving modes available: all-wheel drive, all-wheel-drive sport and 100-percent rear-wheel-drive setup. The seven-speed DCT will be replaced by an eight-speed automatic.
Look for more details on the 2018 BMW M5 to surface in the coming months before it hits the market in early 2018.
[Source: BMWBlog]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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8 speed auto ... that makes me sad.
Hard to get excited about another "jelly bean" body... bmw, quadrifogilio, Mercedes... close your eyes and you can't tell the difference, similar jelly bean shape, similar ride, similar performance... pretty blah... but car mfrs aren't known for being daring, just pumping out the stuff that sells to the broadest audience -- put a bigger badge on it (ala Ralph Lauren) or more of them (like BMW's "M"s) to let the neighbors know you have an expensive car....