2019 BMW M5 Competition Roars To Life With 617 HP

The 2018 BMW M5 is a formidable beast as it packs all-wheel drive and 600 PS (441 kW / 592 hp) but the company is upping the ante by unveiling the new M5 Competition.

Starting under the hood, the model has a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine that produces 625 PS (460 kW / 617 hp). This is an increase of 25 PS (19 kW / 24 hp) but the torque figure remains unchanged at 750 Nm (553 lb-ft).

Thanks to the extra power, the M5 Competition runs from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.3 seconds and 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph) in 10.8 seconds. Compared to the standard model, these are improvements of 0.1 and 0.3 seconds.

Like the standard M5, the M5 Competition is equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a rear-biased all-wheel drive system which works in conjunction with the car’s Active M Differential. While some of the powertrain components carryover, the M5 Competition has special engine mounts with an increased spring rate. BMW says this helps to deliver an “even more direct engine response and immediate transmission of its power to the drivetrain.”

The modifications don’t stop there as engineers fine-tuned the chassis and suspension. They made a host of changes including reducing the ride height by 7mm (0.27 inches) and using toe links with ball joints instead of rubber mounts. BMW says the latter change results in “even more precise wheel guidance at the rear axle.”

Speaking of the suspension, the model has been equipped with 10 percent stiffer springs and a firmer rear anti-roll bar. The dampers have also been tweaked and BMW says the Sport Plus setting “lends itself to ultra-dynamic driving on grand prix tracks.”

Since the Competition is mainly focused on performance, the styling changes are relatively subtle. That being said, the car has high-gloss black accents on the grille, rear bumper and mirror caps. The model also features Competition badging, exclusive 20-inch forged lightweight wheels and a model-specific sports exhaust system that “generates a strikingly prominent soundtrack.”

Moving into the cabin, drivers will find special seat belts and unique floor mats with an “M5” logo. The car’s instrument cluster also shows an “M Competition” graphic at start up.

The BMW M5 Competition will go into production in July and U.S. pricing will start at $110,995.