Do you remember when cars used to get lighter with each passing generation? Combined with power boosts, they were also much quicker than their predecessors. However, the electrification era that the entire automotive world has entered means that vehicles are getting heavier and will continue until the world's brightest minds develop new technologies.
Take the new 2025 BMW M5, for instance. No, seriously, take it, and don't let us see it ever again! It tips the scales at 5,390 pounds (2,445 kg), whereas its predecessor has a curb weight of 4,345 pounds (1,971 kg). Yep, that's nearly two and a half tons for the new M5, which is a bit more than some large modern-day pickup trucks, and this weight doesn't do justice to what should be one of the best driver's cars in the business class.
You can blame the added weight on the electrification diet that this model underwent. The electric motor generates 194 hp (197 ps/145 kW) and 206 pound-foot (280 Nm) of torque, added to the 576 hp (585 ps/430 kW) and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) produced by the 4.4L twin-turbo V8. The internal combustion unit is the same one used on the XM, albeit in a different state of tune, and the fact that it retains its V8 recipe is one of the very few positive aspects of the 2025 BMW M5, which enjoys a combined 717 horsepower (727 ps/535 kW) and a peak 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm).
Photo: BMW
The old BMW M5, which was recently pulled off the brand's worldwide websites, used to kick off 617 hp (625 ps/460 kW). The naught to sixty (0-97 kph) was a 3.1-second affair in this case, with the superior 626 hp (635 ps/467 kW) M5 CS dropping the sprint time by another two-tenths of a second to 2.9 seconds. So, how fast do you think the new M5 is? Unless you said 3.4 seconds, you are wrong, as those are the numbers the Munich auto marque released earlier this week during the grand unveiling.
Reaching its standard electronically limited top speed was never an issue in the modern-day M5s, as they're usually capped at 155 mph (250 kph). The same goes for the outgoing and incoming ones, which can be boosted to 190 mph (306 kph) by ticking the M Driver's Package box on the options list. Thus, it may have superior firepower compared to its predecessor, but the new M5 cannot beat it in a straight line, and chances are it will have trouble keeping up with it on a twisty mountain road due to the added weight.
Older BMW M5s were true design gems, starting with the E28 of the 1980 and the E34 of the 1990s, all the way to the E39 of the late '90s and early 2000s. We used to think the Chris Bangle-era 5er was plain ugly when it came out, but in the meantime, it has aged better than most. The E60 (Sedan) and E61 (Touring) remain the only M5s outfitted with a V10 engine. Honestly, the F10 M5 from 2011 to 2016 is still the best-looking model of the series ever made, reaching peak perfection in the 5er Alpina configuration.
Photo: BMW
The F90 that followed it and preceded the new one has started looking much better ever since the 2025 BMW M5 broke cover earlier this week. For what it’s worth, the F90 was the first to adopt an M-tuned rear-biased xDrive all-wheel drive system, and this feature is here to stay in the new one. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially since it can still do some cool donuts, but we're curious how the new one behaves during an apex-feeding session with its extra pounds.
If there's another thing that needs mentioning, it is that I'd rather be behind the wheel of the new M5 looking at the F10 M5 rather than the other way around. Not that there's anything wrong with the older iteration, but because the new one is plain ugly. It makes us miss Chris Bangle's touch, and who knows, maybe it will eventually grow on us as the E60 did. However, for now, it is certainly the ugliest M5 ever made, and while it may be cleverer in every aspect and probably a better daily overall, we'd stick to the old one.
What I'm trying to say is don't order the 2025 BMW M5 if you're fortunate enough to own its predecessor, and don't do it if the F10 M5 sits in your garage. If anything, this would be a good time to upgrade to the F90, as its value should decrease over the coming months and years. I'm sorry, BMW, but your new M5 disappoints heavily at first glance, anyway, and you could have certainly done better in terms of design. After all, I know you're listening to your fanbase, as you haven't expanded the bucktooth grille to other models, so listen to us again and bring back the classic styling.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News