Spy shots: Next M5 to feature twin-turbo V8, KERS

[J.Belknap]

I'm liking those brakes.

[chilliwilli]

Originally Posted by Weasel

I believe it will be the fastest BMW produced for quite a few years.... and will knock Cadillac off their high horse with the worlds fastest sedan thing. (they finally took it from us just this year I believe)

Thought the fastest sedan title belongs to Panemera?

[Viperfreak2]

Caddy is faster. 556hp vs. 500 for the Porsche. Cadillac is also lighter

[FSETH]

Depends on how you are defining fast. The Panamera Turbo already beat the CTS-V's Ring time, so imo that would make the Panamera king of the hill in the 4-door sedan catagory right now.

[Viperfreak2]

I usually think in a straight line and top speed. Drag Race. BUT 'ring time is important too!

According to one source, the Bentley Flying Spur is fastest at 200mph

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Viperfreak2

I'm gonna say tire smoke because it's rolling off under the tire, but the confusing thing is only from one rear tire?

Scrolled the image to the right and low and behold it does look from the tires...and the right rear only. BMW has already cheaped out and only does LSD on M cars, I hope they're not going even cheaper and not using an LSD at all in the car. I don't care how good the traction control system is...I wan't both wheels putting down the power.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by m5james

Scrolled the image to the right and low and behold it does look from the tires...and the right rear only. BMW has already cheaped out and only does LSD on M cars, I hope they're not going even cheaper and not using an LSD at all in the car. I don't care how good the traction control system is...I wan't both wheels putting down the power.

This is a development car that is reputed to have the KERS system. Not really fair to say they cheaped out, or directly compare the design of the rear axle to previous iterations, if it is a whole new design.

[m5james]

I'm sure for the real driving enthusiast, they'd rather have a true LSD vs KERS. I can hear the arguements between and F10 M5 and Porsche 911TT owner now - "Dude, I roasted you in those corners!" "Yeah, but my batteries we're charged more, so there" KERS is cool and all, but if it sacrifices driving an M5 at it's limits in exchange for a better hole shot, is that really a good tradeoff? I would just hope it could have KERS as well as an LSD.

Also, cheaping out is exactly what BMW did for a lot of cars by no longer including LSD's in cars...if little E30 318's or E32 740iL's have them, why in the world wouldn't my E38 740iL as well? DSC replaced ASC (my M5 doesn't even have ASC), so BMW let electronics replaced good ol' fashioned LSD's aka cheaped out. Even with KERS, no one likes a one-legger.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by m5james

I'm sure for the real driving enthusiast, they'd rather have a true LSD vs KERS.

I'm sure for the real driving enthusiast, they'd rather have the best overall performance, and not worry about the design of the driveline that accomplishes that performance. If a form of the KERS system provides that best overall performance (no, not just in a drag race) then it wouldn't bother me in the least what acronym was applied to the driveline.

It is like debating whether or not M cars should have turbocharging. The highest performing vehicles (F1, etc) have used forced induction for many years. It was quaint that BMW didn't use FI for the M cars, but they finally had to move with the times. Using or not using a traditional limited slip diff may be part of that onward march of technology, in the interests of better performance.

[m5james]

I know F1 uses KERS, but at the same time...you can throw all the power in the world at it, but if only 1 wheel is spinning, it's throwing away power. Either way, it's not out yet, it's one picture and who knows what was happening in that turn. We're arguing and for all we don't know anything for sure until it's actually out on the road.

Night all.