BMW M5 Competition upgraded

The upgraded 2021 BMW M5 Competition has been revealed and confirmed for Australian release in October.

Full local specifications won’t be announced until closer to its Aussie launch, so it’s unclear whether pricing will go up from the current model’s sticker of $234,900 plus on-road costs.

That, it’s worth reiterating here, positions the large Competition sedan – the only variant of the BMW M5 available Down Under – about mid-way between the Mercedes-AMG E 63 4MATIC+ sedan ($218,200) and the more powerful S grade ($248,600), upgraded versions of which are also imminent.

As seen in a teaser image last month, the 2021 BMW M5 is distinguished by slimmer headlights with L-shaped light tubes and new dark-tinted BMW Individual Shadow Line accents for the BMW Laserlight units.

The new front bumper is also more aggressive and gains bigger side air intakes, bringing it into line with the facelift for the mainstream BMW 5 Series range revealed last month.

There also a taller kidney-shape grille that extends further down into the front bumper, but thankfully BMW has not applied the controversial ‘big-mouth’ grille of its latest 4 Series to the M5.

At the rear there’s a new bumper and lower diffuser housing thinner-walled quad exhaust outlets, and new L-shape graphics for the three-dimensional LED tail-lights, similar to those on the rest of the 2021 5 Series range.

For the Competition version, there’s a high-gloss black finish for the grille surround, side M gill mesh, exterior mirror caps and boot lid spoiler. Meantime, black M5 Competition badges adorn the grille, gills and the boot lid, there are illuminated door sill logos and the M Sport exhaust tailpipes are finished in black chrome.

BMW M5-specific design features like an aluminium bonnet, front side panels, streamlined M wing mirrors and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof continue.

There’s the new option of 20-inch M double-spoke alloy wheels in polished Orbit Grey, as seen on the BMW M8, instead of the standard forged bi-colour 20-inch M alloys with a Y-spoke design and staggered tyres (275/35 R20 front; 285/35 R20 rear).

There are also five new paint finishes, including Brands Hatch Grey, Motegi Red metallic, Tanzanite Blue II metallic, Aventurine Red II metallic and matte Frozen Bluestone metallic finishes from BMW Individual, while the previous Champagne Quartz metallic has been renamed Alvit Grey metallic.

Rounding out the cosmetic updates is the option of high-gloss black or high-gloss red instead of the standard blue brake callipers (six-piston up front, single-piston at rear, gripped inner-vented and cross-drilled rotors).

M carbon ceramic brakes with gold calipers remain optional, reducing weight by 23kg and improving stopping performance and fade resistance.

The big news inside is the latest BMW OS7.0 infotainment system with a big new 12.3-inch central display that can be controlled via natural voice inputs, touch or the rotary iDrive controller on the centre console.

Alongside it, as in the M8, are two new buttons to provide more direct access to system settings and info via the instrument cluster and head-up display. The M Mode button allows drivers to toggle between the ROAD and SPORT settings, while the Setup allows drivers to configure individual powertrain and chassis settings.

M multifunction seats with integrated head restraints, an illuminated M5 logo, merino leather upholstery and multi-way electric adjustment remain, but can now be had in the black/midrand beige colours from the M8 and X5/X6 M.

Under the bonnet, the BMW M5’s epic twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 continues unchanged, so the Competition version makes the same big 460kW/750Nm outputs as the current model – and the X5 M and X6 M Competition.

There’s no sign of the mooted CS version and the BMW M5 continues with its multi-mode xDrive all-wheel drive system, Active M Differential and performance-tuned eight-speed M Steptronic torque converter automatic transmission.

Inexplicably, however, BMW claims the 2021 BMW M5 Competition can hit 100km/h in only 3.3 seconds – one-tenth sooner than before – on its way to 200km/h in just 10.8sec and a top speed of 305km/h thanks to the standard fitment of the M Driver’s Package on Aussie-spec models.

Finally, while the Competition version still gets bespoke engine mounts, stiffer spring rates and 7mm-lower ride height, BMW says it has retuned the M5 chassis to make it even sharper, courtesy of revised suspension geometry and new shock absorbers.

It claims new dampers from the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe improve both ride comfort and on-the-limit handling.