Details of Next M5 Emerge

[JoshCalkins]

2009 BMW M5

The next generation of the M5 is set to hit the streets in 2011 or 2012, and, as one would expect, details are still a bit scarce about what the car will be like. However, recent reports from Germany give us some news about two big features for the next M5. First up is the engine. While there is still speculation that the next M5 will be powered by a twin turbo V8, like that found in the X5 M and X6 M, it turns out that the V10 powerplant just might stick around. This won't be just a rehash of the current V10, however, but rather a scaled up model of the aforementioned V8 that will put out about 600 horsepower. This development seems all the more likely when you look at one of the M5's major competitors, the Audi RS6. That car also has a V10, and it cranks out 580 horsepower.

The next big feature for the upcoming M5 is the addition of a Formula 1-inspired KERS. KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) is part of the current Formula 1 season, and has been the cause of quite a few arguments, including a few teams withdrawing from competition. In essence, what KERS does is it takes the kinetic energy of a turning wheel and, whenn you apply the brakes, stores part of that energy in either a mechanical (in the flywheel) or electrical (battery) form. In regards to gathering energy, KERS is a variation of regenerative braking. However, the use of KERS in Formula 1 is pretty different.

Mechanical KERS

Regenerative braking systems are meant to generate electricity to power cabin features like the radio, ventilation, etc. KERS stores energy and then produces a "boost," activated by a button on the steering wheel. In this year's Formula 1 season, the cars are allowed to store up to 61 kilowatts of energy and then use that boost (which is equal to about 82 horsepower) for up to six seconds each lap. A lot of F1 teams have been unhappy with the system because it adds a huge budget to the cars, and it doesn't produce that much noticeable difference in power because proper driving techniques and strategy more than make up for a short boost. Also, the systems were pretty unreliable and have caused a couple fires (put a huge battery that charges very quickly inside of a small car body that is already working to disappate huge amounts of heat and you've got a recipe for disaster). KERS will not be a part of Formula 1 next year, but BMW doesn't want to waste their development investment, so they'll try to apply a bit of the technology to the M5. We'll have to wait and see whether that comes in the form of a "Boost" button on the steering wheel (I'm thinking that's unlikely), or in a more advanced electricty-producing regenerative braking system.

For those of you who want to know more about KERS, I've attached a PDF press release from Xtrac, a transmission company who partnered with Formula 1 to develop the system. It's pretty technical and uses words like "toroidal" and "variator-flywheel ratio," so have fun.

Torotrak_Xtrac_CVT.pdf