Mysterious BMW M5 Spied With A Wider Rear Track, Could It Be A CSL?

Spy photographers have snapped a mysterious BMW M5 Competition undergoing testing in Europe.

While the model doesn’t look terribly special at first glance, it’s equipped with rear fender flares. These are a telltale sign of a wider track and they’re accompanied by wider 295 tires. That’s notable as the standard M5 has 275 tires, while the M5 Competition is equipped with 285 tires.

Of course, that doesn’t tell us much about the car other than it’s an M5 with a wider track and wider rear tires. As a result, we’re not entirely sure what BMW has up their sleeve.

Also Read: 2022 BMW M5 CS Debuts With 627 HP, Hits 60 MPH In Less Than 3 Seconds

One possibility is this is simply a special edition, possibly even the first production M5 CSL (BMW had created a one-off M5 CSL E60 in 2009), that could be introduced next year to celebrate BMW M’s 50th anniversary. That remains to be seen, but the company has previously said 2022 will be a “year full of surprises” that will be marked by a number of special editions.

It’s also possible this isn’t a prototype, but rather a mule for the next-generation model. Rumors have suggested the redesigned M5 will arrive in 2024 and feature an electrified powertrain that consists of a V8 engine and at least one electric motor. This setup would reportedly give the car a combined output of around 750 hp (559 kW / 760 PS) and 737 lb-ft (998 Nm) of torque.

There have also been rumors about an EV variant that would have a tri-motor powertrain capable of producing up to 1,006 hp (750 kW / 1,020 PS). This would reportedly enable the eco-friendly M5 to rocket from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in just 2.9 seconds. The rumor mill also suggested the vehicle would have a 135 kWh battery pack, which would allow for a range of up to 435 miles (700 km) in the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure.

Picture credits: CarPix for CarScoops