BMWM5 (F90) 2017 - 2020

　　The sixth generation of the M5 came on the market in 2017 and instantly became a benchmark for the sports sedan segment thanks to its powerful engines and rich features.

　　Ever since the first generation of the M5 in 1984, the German automaker started the power-horse war in the mid-size sedan segment of the European market. While in the U.S., it was not something unusual to see such vehicles fitted with large engines, in Europe, it was. The evolution continued with larger naturally-aspirated powerplants until the fourth generation of the M5, the E60, which featured a mighty 5.0-liter V10 under the hood. Afterward, BMW lowered the engines’ displacements for this nameplate but added turbochargers. As a result, the fifth reiteration of this model (the F10 M5) and its successor, the F90 M5, came with a 4.4-liter V8, helped by a pair of turbos.

　　In 2017, BMW introduced the seventh generation of the 5 Series (the G30), and customers didn’t have to wait too long to see the most powerful version of it, the mighty M5. It was not that difficult for the automaker to create it since it already had the engine and the CLAR platform that was already shared with other vehicles from its lineup, including the Roll-Royce Ghost. The M5 featured a similar front fascia as its 5 Series sibling but with several improvements. Its narrow headlights were fitted with laser technology and featured a similar DRL signature with a hexagonal shape inside the headlamps. But the front bumper was the one that caught the eyes of the bystanders with its wide lower grille and massive, functional side scoops. From its profile, the fluid lines of the bodywork were visually amplified by the side sills and the enlarged rear fenders. At the back, the automaker installed a diffuser flanked by four exhausts. A particular improvement over its non-M sibling was the roof, which was made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), which reduced weight on the upper side of the vehicle.

　　Inside, the car offered almost everything a customer could wish from such a sports sedan. Its Merino leather upholstery, color head-up display, and wide infotainment touchscreen atop the center stack were standard. In addition, the digital instrument cluster provided all the data required by someone who knew how to properly put the M5 to its pace. Moreover, the high-bolstered bucket seats ensured its occupants that they would stay in place regardless of how fast a corner was taken. In the back, the split-folding bench seat was profiled for two, but the automaker installed three seat belts, just in case someone would want to sit above the transmission tunnel.

　　Under the hood, the F90 got a revised version of the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 carried over from its predecessor. Just like that model, it was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that sent the power to all corners. In addition, customers could select various driving modes, including one that sent all the torque exclusively to the rear wheels. The limited-slip differential at the back was also standard, but the carbon ceramic was not.

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