This was the best we could do!
With its plug-in hybrid system, the new M5 weighs 2,444 kg, or 450 kg more than its predecessor. The terms ‘two and a half ton’ and ‘sports sedan’ shouldn’t be in the same sentence, but times change. Frank van Meel, head of BMW’s M division, recently told CarBuzz that adding a heavy-duty plug-in hybrid system was the only way to keep the M5 in production.
According to van Meel, BMW is not yet ready to make the M5 an electric vehicle, so to comply with emissions regulations it had to resort to a hybrid drivetrain with a range of around 70 km on electricity alone. It’s not much, but it’s enough for driving around town.
– An electric M5 would need much more than just batteries. You need the entire architecture, electronics, high-voltage system – van Meel told CarBuzz.
– So, this was actually the best we could do.
Van Meel insists that the M5 still behaved like an M5.
Given that its CO2 emissions are just 50g/km according to the WLTP, in some countries the M5 will end up being more affordable than the non-hybrid configuration due to reduced tax benefits.
Source: Revijahak.hr / CarBuzz
Photo: Arhiva Autoblog.rs / BMW
Source: autoblog.rs
