Is BMW’s New AWD M5 Good Enough To Take On The Mercedes E63?

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The BMW M5 is an automotive icon and the company has pulled the wraps off the latest edition in Frankfurt.

Set to become one of the most technologically advanced M cars ever created, the 2018 M5 comes equipped with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine that produces 600 PS (441 kW) and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque.

That doesn’t sound like much of a change but the engine is now connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a high-tech all-wheel drive system that promises to be the “most emotionally engaging” one on the market. Drivers who prefer a more traditional experience won’t be disappointed either as the car offers an assortment of different settings including one for classic rear-wheel drive.

Thanks to the upgraded engine and the all-wheel drive system, the M5 will accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds and hit a top speed of up to 305 km/h (189 mph) when equipped with the optional M Driver’s Package.

That’s nothing to sneeze at but the Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4MATIC has the model beat in the horsepower department as it boasts a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that develops 612 PS (450 kW) and 850 Nm (626 lb-ft) of torque.

While the Mercedes appears to have the edge, the BMW weighs 1,855 kg (4,089 lbs) – thanks to an aluminum hood and a carbon fiber reinforced plastic roof – while the Benz tips the scales at 1,955 kg (4,310 lbs). The weight difference is enough to put both models in a statistical dead heat during a race from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) as both companies list a time of 3.4 seconds.

One place where the M5 is a clear winner is in the pricing department as the model starts at €117,900 in Germany (equal to $141,049) which is nearly €4,000 ($4,785 at current exchange rates) less than its Stuttgart rival. Of course, Mercedes also offers a more affordable E63 4MATIC which undercuts the M5 in price, but it has less power and is a tenth of a second slower to 100 km/h (62 mph).

Pricing and performance figures only tell part of the story, so let know which one you would get in the comments below.