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- The Tri-State Area
Introduced in 2005, the fourth-generation BMW M5 is one of the most daring high-performance sedans of its day.
Based on the new E60 5 Series platform, with its controversial Bangle-styled body, this M5 emerged during an era when BMW was heavily invested in Formula One, having provided engines and a title sponsorship to the Williams team and subsequently buying the Sauber team. In part, the M5 was created to reflect that.
At the heart of the E60 M5's identity was its power unit: the S85 engine. A naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10, the S85 wasn't derived from any of BMW's other Vs nor directly related to the item in the back of the Williams/Sauber F1 cars - but certainly the layout and sound was intended to draw a line to the latter.
Producing 507hp - more than 100hp/litre - and 384lbft, the S85 would spin up to 8,250rpm and to date remains the only V10 engine BMW ever produced for a road car. In most examples, it was paired with the SMG III seven-speed, single-clutch automated manual transmission, further linking the F1 programme with M division.
However, this V10 centrepiece could also be the car's Achilles' Heel, with a number of fragile aspects that make it a tricky proposition for second- and third-owners and beyond. The S85 also later formed the basis for the S65 V8 used in the M3, and the motorsport P85 for the M3 and Z4 GT3 cars already in GT7.
Along with being the first and still only V10 M5, the E60 was the last naturally aspirated model. The E28 and E34 were straight-sixes, the E39 became the first V8, and all three subsequent generations are twin-turbo V8s.
While it's the saloon suggested here - and specifically the post-facelift (LCI: Life Cycle Impulse) model previously seen in Gran Turismo 5/6 as a Premium/Detailed model - this generation was also the only one to offer an estate (E61) body until the most recent G90/G99. This was never offered in North America, and only 5% of the cars sold were estates.
To date, this is also the only BMW M5 model to ever appear in any Gran Turismo game - including the Concept back in Gran Turismo 4 Prologue, and both the pre-LCI 2005 "Standard" and LCI "Premium"/"Detailed" models. It's also one of only two 5 Series of any kind in the history of the series, alongside the E39 528i in Gran Turismo 2.
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