2019 BMW M5 — The Master Blaster

What an incredible success story. Every single generation of BMW’s legendary M5 only gets better, further improving ultra-high performance while establishing new lofty standards that only seems to be bested by the next evolution of the series. A few cars come dangerously close, yet the M5 still stands peerless. The all-new 6th generation F90 model did that once again.

Comparable to its predecessor, the new M5 can be even more heavily optioned, like our immaculate Alpine White test unit, with the Driver’s Package which raises the governed top speed from 250 km/h to 305 km/h! I’m so happy that our test unit came packaged with the M Carbon Ceramic Brakes to help me harness the monumental 600 bhp twin-turbo V8 engine, which so happens to also save 51 pounds of unsprung weight at the wheels too!

The new M5 is marginally dimensionally larger than before but it feels a lot more spacious in the cabin. The beautifully sculpted Aragon Brown Full Merino leather seats, with the front seats further highlighted literally with the M5 logo at neck level, hugely contributes to a glorious cabin that is exceptionally more opulent than any generation before it. It also has, dare I say it, just too many features and electronic gadgetry to fully experience in a week’s time despite logging close to 800 test kilometers on the odometer. So, owners will have a very long period of discovery and wonder which is honestly fabulous.

As ludicrous as its sounds, the BMW M5 may be just too fast and too capable. You buy it because of how it makes you and your passengers feel in such an incredible machine at a time when most cars are quickly becoming soulless appliances. I consistently catapulted from rest to 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds while maintaining its sublime ride comfort — but of course, there is a market for those who simply demand it all.

The balance and packaging of the car makes every second in it enjoyable. The new M5, despite the all-wheel-drive system, is lighter by about 88 pounds (40 kg) compared to the old model while having 44 bhp more power and 51 lb ft more torque in a far more rigid yet refined body. You can drive the rears purely if so desired by fully disabling the nanny systems, but I warn you that except for doing silly drifts and doughnuts, the M5 would perform with less speed. The carbon-fiber roof, lithium-ion battery, and exemplary new chassis all contribute to the weight savings without any compromises. Our test unit also had the Executive Package and the sensational Bowers & Wilkins audio system so we had so many toys to play with when I wasn’t doing my dynamic testing.

There is so much grip, so much of all the ethereal greatness of driving a supremely dynamic tour-de-force of a car, the M5 does it ALL! The thrust is unbelievable, relentless yet effortless. Even with four people on board I was quicker in the M5 than in most dedicated sports cars and even super cars. Who would have thought even a decade ago that most of the fastest cars on the road today would use an eight-speed automatic “slush-box!” And yes, I wouldn’t think twice about buying a new M5 over a tricked out Tesla Model S. It’s practically the same money without the range-anxiety and the M5 is exponentially classier, faster, and more athletic in every way, but I would have some guilt about our environment which I would try to compensate for by planting even more trees to reduce my carbon footprint.

Ultimately folks, the all-new BMW M5 is the greatest car that BMW has built to date. It represents everything that the brand stands for to its core and so much more. It’s the super saloon to end all super saloons, until BMW bests itself again. It isn’t cheap — and it can’t be — it is worth every cent.

You can drive this car every single day whether you want to blast around to challenge your heart or waft along at a regular pace, it will always deliver more than you expect. Both supercars and hypercars will have to work so much harder to challenge the M5, and they will run out of fuel well before it too in the process, as the BMW is also very fuel efficient despite generating 600 bhp. It is the perfect super saloon, the new standard in its class without any weaknesses whatsoever.