BMW M5 Competition OFFICIALLY revealed – it’s all a bit more ‘M’

The BMW M5 Competition officially arrives as the hardcore take on the new M5, complete with extra power, added stiffness and more aggressive looks. Expect prices to start around £100k.

The new BMW M5 is not a car you could accuse of being lacking in any area, but for those who just must have an M5 that’s a bit better than everyone else’s M5 then the answer has arrived – the new BMW M5 Competition.

No longer a ‘Pack’ but a model proper, the M5 Competition aims to turn the M5’s dial up to 11, in the process creating a more hard-edged, more powerful and visually more aggressive car. 

Power from the M5’s 4.4 litre V8 goes up from a meagre 592bhp to a fulsome 616bhp (yes, a whole 24bhp), and although torque stays the same at 553lb/ft it is available over a slightly wider band. The result is 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds – an improvement of a stunning 0.1 seconds. Tick the box for Driver’s Package (no, it’s not standard) and you will hit 189mph. Although you can do the same in the regular M5 too.

Under the skin the M5 Competition sits a bit lower, its suspension is a bit stiffer, it has a more shouty exhaust and comes with the eight-speed M Steptronic gearbox and BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

Just so others know your M5 isn’t just your average M5, there’s a set of showy 20″ alloys and black highlights around the body, and inside you get stripes on the seat belts and ‘Competition’ mats. Oh, and the dash says ‘M Competition’ when you switch on.

There are no prices for the M5 Competition from BMW yet, but expect it to come in at pennies under £100k.