2004 BMW M5 Concept

Previewing the Most Anticipated Performance Car in Years

Ask any true blue enthusiast what single car they would own if money was no object and the BMW M5 jumps to the top of the list more often than not. It's on top of mine

To many people the BMW M5 is the perfect sports sedan, and top of the shopping list if money isn't part of the equation. (Photo: BMW Canada)

without question, and for what it's worth I've driven just about every car currently sold in Canada.

It's the ideal sports sedan, with dashing good looks, an accommodating well appointed cabin, NBA level moves and devastatingly quick acceleration. No matter what the competition seems to serve up, the M5 continues to end up highest on the desirability list.

But in recent years the competition has become fierce to say the least. The Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG has stepped up with no

Stiff competition from Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Cadillac has forced BMW to step up performance for the newest M5. (Photo: BMW Canada)

less than 469 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque at its disposal, the result of a supercharged 5.5-liter V8. That's 75 horsepower and 48 lb-ft of torque more than the current M5, what happened?

Top rival Mercedes-Benz would be enough of a reason for BMW's M division to step up its game, but Volkswagen's Audi subsidiary also anted up with a twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter V8 powered A6, dubbed the RS6. It puts out a decadent 450 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, not as much as the Merc but still more than the M5. Even Cadillac's ultra-hot CTS-V sports slightly more power at 400 ponies, with the added benefit of a 6-speed manual pulled right from the Corvette Z06 that donates the car's engine.