Goodbye, M5 – BMW Ceases Production
Photography courtesy of BMW
Fast sedan lovers will cry a little bit harder tonight – the door is closing on the current BMW M5. Now, that’s not to say that the name won’t surface on a future super saloon, just that the road has ended for the current V10 model. In fact, we hear rumors that details on the next generation M5 will be surfacing as soon as next year.
After five years of sales, BMW M GmbH has churned out a total of 20,548 of the latest M5. The BMW M5 sedan is accountable for 19,523 of these, with the BMW M5 Touring wagon, which was first launched in 2007 and is unavailable in the US, contributing a further 1,025 sales.
That’s more M5s sold than the previous generation, which was on sale for six years – one year longer. We remember driving the final E60-chassis M5 when it was released and what a machine it was.
The 500hp V10 engine, derived from the then V10-centric F1 engine program, absolutely screamed and the car came alive with the press of the “M” button. Combined with technology like active seats and a quick shifting sequential transmission, the M5 was more than capable for a car of its size and weight.
Introduced in 1984, the BMW M5 was one of the first super sedans. Cars such as the CTS-V and anything AMG owe much to the M5’s popularity. From the first M5’s inline-six engine, the car would gain its greatest US notoriety from the third-generation E39 model, which boasted a 400hp V8 engine. The last V10 engine only added to its reputation.
The USA also proved to be the most crucial sales market for the fifth generation of the BMW M5. 8,800 vehicles were sold in the United States. Ahead of the German market (1,647 units), Great Britain and Ireland developed the greatest demand on the European continent with 1,776 vehicles sold. Japan (1,357 units) takes fourth place among the most significant markets for the BMW M5 Saloon, followed by Italy (512).
The BMW M5 Touring wagon enjoyed the greatest popularity in Germany (302 units), Great Britain and Ireland (208) and in Italy (184).
