*& remember, please don’t drink and drive, there’ll probably be like a million roadblocks all around the island, losing your license isn’t fun and maybe you might puke in the car… That’s no fun too… Hooking up tho, is quite fun, unless you are drunk and wake up in the morning next to a tranny, no joy there… Presents are fun… anyway, Happy Holidays everyone, keep it safe and keep it real…”

According to the new rumors, the next M5 will have a variant of the V8 engine used by the X5M and X6M, tuned to have more horsepower and torque than the V10. The engine will be paired to a new dual-clutch transmission based on the M3’s gearbox. The driver will control shifting through paddles mounted to the steering wheel. Despite getting nearly 570 horsepower, fuel consumption on the new model is “expected to be between 25-30% better than the E60 M5.” That should translate to about 14.5mpg in the city, and 22mpg highway, a huge improvement over the 11/17 figures posted by the outgoing model.

Fuel consumption is kept low by using Active Aerodynamics at the front and in the wheel arches. Small turbines will be built into the grille to use the drag created by braking as electricity. The tipster also reaffirms rumors of a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), similar to that developed by the BMW Sauber F1 team, will be used on the car. When pressing a button, the driver will utilize the KERS’ Twin Parallel Supercapacitors to provide a ten-second power boost. This system should appear on the BMW Active Hybrid 5 concept as well going on view in Geneva next March.

Aside from a new stability system, look for the 2011 BMW M5 to get options like carbon fiber brakes, and carbon fiber roof. Bigger brake outlets, wheel arches, and new side air intakes can also be expected.

Look for an M5 concept to hit the stage at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, with the production and market launch of the 2011 BMW M5 taking place just before the Frankfurt show later that year.

Source: bmwblog.com via Worlcarfans.com

Whoever said the F10 doesn’t look good? Look again!

Two Russian tuning firms and a German company have teamed up to offer a new kit for the 2011 BMW 5-Series F10. TopCar and Cardi, from Russia, and Lumma Design have joined forces to create an aggressive styling package which will likely boost performance.

Judging by the included renderings, the car will maintain a bulging nose, with new carbon fiber front lip installed underneath. The new bumper features five sections of air inlets, with honeycomb grille, and what looks like integrated LED lighting.

Bulging wheel wells lead to aggressive side sills. The carved line leading from the front bumper to the sills is a particularly nice touch. In back, a carbon fiber spoiler is added on top of the trunk, and a smoother bumper will also be included. A carbon fiber rear diffuser, quad-tailpipes, and triple-spoke wheels rounds out the package.

The bodywork was created by TopCar and Cardi. Lumma Design is keeping their cards hidden when it comes to the engine tuning kit they are developing for the package. Full details should be released when their car is presented in April 2010.

Source: cardesign.ru via Worldcarfans.com

Picked up from Worldcarfans.com

The folks over at M5Board.com and TeamSpeed.com have sent in these renderings of the upcoming BMW M5. Shown in the drawings is a mid-size four-door that many would be pleased to drive.

While we like the conceptual drawings very much, we do not think the next M5 will have such a race-ready look. Expect the front air intakes to be a bit less prominent, and the side sills to be less aggressive. After all, this is a car meant to appeal to executives, and will likely have a more conservative appearance than the drawings depict.

The upcoming BMW M5 is expected to get a 500+ horsepower turbocharged engine that produces almost 500 ft-lb of torque. BMW already uses a 4.4-liter twin-turbo on V8 that generates 555 hp and 501 ft-lb on the BMW X5/X6 M. This may be a suitable and more efficient replacement for the previously used V10. A new transmission will be paired to the engine. It will likely be similar to the seven-speed dual-clutch unit seen on the M5 25th anniversary car.

Aside from active aerodynamics, look for the car to get a carbon fiber roof, taller gearing, and LED daytime lights. The next BMW M5 is expected to debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.