M5 Sedan

Make
BMW
Segment
Sedan

The latest M5 has been lauded for its superb switchable AWD drivetrain and ferocious 600-horsepower twin-turbo V8 powerplant. It comfortably steps from luxurious cruiser to full-on super sedan at the prod of the throttle, while earlier this year BMW moved the goalposts even further with the introduction of the M5 Competition.

This model produces an additional 17 hp and comes with further refinements to the suspension and chassis to make it even more accomplished at the limit. While the dynamic improvements are welcome, clearly there is a lot more power and handling ability to be extracted here and aftermarket tuner AC Schnitzer has been hard at work doing just that.

The AC Schnitzer M5 performance upgrade includes a power bump to 700 hp with a commensurate increase in torque levels from 553 to 627 lb-ft. The V4 suspension kit has variable height adjustment and is paired with AC Schnitzer's 21-inch lightweight wheels to offer even more grip and poise in the corners.

The tuning house has already set the fastest lap times ever recorded in an M5 at both the Nurburgring and the Sachsenring, going faster than any four-door sedan on the shorter circuit.

Carbon aerodynamic components are also being rolled out and while only the engine performance upgrade is currently listed on offer on AC Schnitzer's website, BMW Abu Dhabi has just shown what they claim to be the very first M5 Competition with the body kit and AC Schnitzer 21-inch wheels fitted.

While they do not reveal whether the engine has also been modified, the AC Schnitzer exhaust tips indicate that the exhaust system may well have been upgraded. The massive front splitter and huge rear wing give the M5 a much more aggressive look than its standard counterpart, with design elements that bring to mind the track-focused M4 GTS rather than any four-door sedan rival.