At first glance, this looks like just any other BMW M5. But our European spy photographers CarPix say there’s something different about this particular M5. According to them, they saw all four wheels of this particular car in action, spinning wildly in the snow, so they decided to follow it until it was parked, where they took the opportunity to peek under the car.
This revealed front wheel driveshafts – this was basically a BMW M5 with xDrive all wheel drive. Now this isn’t the first M car with xDrive – if you consider the X5 M and X6 M as true M cars – which the M division do – then those would be the first M cars with xDrive.
But there has never been an xDrive M5, and it looks like the next generation car could be the first. We say next generation because we already see the next generation 5-Series prototype on road tests and the 5-er has already gone past its mid-lifecycle update, so updating the current F10 M5 would not make sense.
An xDrive M5 would likely feature a rear-biased setup to prevent understeer traits from cropping up – an attribute closely related to AWD layouts. Purists should view this move as more of a necessity than a form of dilution as future M5 and M6 models are most likely to boast much higher power figures.
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not sure if this is more reason to buy a bmw or less….its like the carmakers have no longer any identity of their own….audi once was selling their cars for their quattro magic….now merc has their 4matic and bmw with their xdrive….
As I keep saying….. The Germans are so preoccupied with what each of them are making to the point they all end up making the same car.
Don’t see why someone would be tempted with one of these…I mean the M5 is great because its a very good rear drive sport saloon. In the snow, would be much better off in a Land Rover or if on a budget… An AWD Volvo or Subaru estate with proper tires and ground clearance.
I don’t have to mention how many times I had nearly got my lower riding, performance (snow) tire’d AWD sports car beached in deep snow.
As all off road 4×4 guys will tell you… The more traction you have just means you’d get stuck further and in a more sticky jam. :)
So true. And the so called corporate face of various models makes them so identical and boring. Only the size is different when looked from the outside…
awd is an overkill on an M5.
The Europeans need it for their winter season. A RWD setup will never be safe enough with all those power going to the rear wheels only and t he BMW cannot keep up during the rain in corners comparing to 4WD and AWD cars so this setup seems logical for those reasons.
Well they could get a winter tires anyway, still more grippy than AWD car with summer tires in snowy place.
You really have no idea at all, do you.
You know what? a A famous manufacturer that build FR car now have AWD system on their M5 series. WTF?
they already do fwd….awd isnt so bad if u compare =P
Its never logical to drive a 500hp supercar dressed in a business suit if you are going to play in the snow eh? Its all going to end in tears no matter what shoes you wear.
I have AWD cars with over 400NM of torque, a far cry from the almost 700 you get in the M5. I can tell you even with snow tyres, it ain’t enough.
Much better off in a range rover….or a normal xDrive BMW. (Friend had a E38 M5 for summer and a E46 320xi for winter duty)
One needs to be a little loose in the head to max out a M5 in the rain…. with or without AWD.
Actually there some people do donuts in the snow for fun,I guess you all never heard of Fun in the snow.
AWD on M models will significantly increase acceleration times up to 1 second. That I wanna see