Next BMW M5 likely to have almost 600hp

[Bruce Nunnally]

Trying to catch up to the Cadillac CTS-V performance?

Rumors (and good sense) suggest BMW is definitely scrapping the current M5's V-10, which is no longer relevant in today's fuel economy- and C02-conscious world. Instead, we expect the new M5 will use a version of the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 found in the new X5 M and X6 M SUVs. While those two behemoths put out 547 bhp, a BMW source told us the twin-turbo V-8 engine "has the potential to put out far more than that." A good guess would peg the new M5 at just under 600 bhp. Gearbox-wise, we were told the current M5's SMG is definitely dead (okay by us), almost certain to be replaced by BMW's twin-clutch M-DCT system with six (or more likely seven) forward gears.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?se...article_id=8450