The launch of the newest BMW M5 is one of the most fascinating days in automotive history. Never have I seen an icon get so lambasted over one single metric: Weight. Some of it was BMW offering the M5’s 5,400-pound curb weight as one of its earliest details about the car, but most of it is the bald fact that the M5 weighs as much as a Chevrolet Tahoe.
It was always going to get roasted by enthusiasts.
So when I finally got my chance to try the M5 for our latest YouTube production, I wanted to approach the issue academically. There are many modern cars that weigh half a ton north of what I think is wise, but still handle incredibly well, and most of them come from BMW.
It could be that the M5, like the R35 Nissan GT-R, is a misunderstood machine that leverages technology in ways I’ve never seen before. It could also be that a twin-turbocharged V-8 hybrid M5 is the superior idea of an M5, over naturally aspirated V-8s, V-10s, and inline-sixes.
There’s a lot to unpack with the G90 M5, and it certainly has a lot of BMW-itis when it comes to engineering and design. It’s usually that the excellence of engineering beneath the ghastly faces and concerning spec sheets makes the cars genuinely incredible to drive.
But you’ll have to watch my video to find out if that’s the case with BMW’s latest super-sedan.
