The BMW M5 G90, launched in 2024, is the first M5 with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Twenty years after the V10 E60 shocked the world with 507 hp, its newest descendant combines a V8 and an electric motor for 727 hp.
The drivetrain
At the heart of the G90 is the S68, a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 585 hp. An electric motor with up to 197 hp is integrated into the eight-speed M Steptronic gearbox. Working together they deliver a system output of 727 hp (535 kW) and 1,000 Nm of torque — more than any M5 before it.
Power goes to all four wheels through M xDrive. As on the previous F90 generation, the driver can choose a pure rear-wheel-drive mode with the stability control switched off.
Electric driving
A high-voltage battery mounted in the floor lets the M5 drive on electricity alone. BMW quotes an electric range of up to around 69 km in the WLTP cycle, and the car can be charged from a wall box with alternating current. In town it can glide in near silence; on a mountain road the electric motor fills in torque at low engine speeds before the turbochargers are fully working.
Key figures
| Engine | S68 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 + electric motor |
|---|---|
| System output | 727 hp (535 kW) |
| System torque | 1,000 Nm |
| Gearbox | 8-speed M Steptronic |
| Drive | M xDrive all-wheel drive with 2WD mode |
| 0–100 km/h | 3.5 s |
| Top speed | 250 km/h limited, 305 km/h with the M Driver's Package |
| Electric range | up to around 69 km (WLTP) |
Weight: the price of the hybrid
The battery, electric motor and power electronics add a lot of mass. At around 2.4 tonnes the G90 is roughly 600 kg heavier than an E60 M5. Clever chassis technology — including rear-wheel steering and wider tracks — helps it hide that weight, but it is a very different kind of car from the lighter, naturally aspirated V10 saloon.
Saloon and Touring
As with the E60/E61 generation, there is also an estate: the G99 M5 Touring uses the same hybrid drivetrain. For the first time, the M5 Touring is also sold in North America.
G90 versus E60
- E60: 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V10, 507 hp, 8,250 rpm redline, rear-wheel drive, SMG III gearbox, about 1.8 tonnes.
- G90: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 plus electric motor, 727 hp, all-wheel drive with RWD mode, 8-speed automatic, about 2.4 tonnes.
The G90 is far quicker and more versatile; the E60 is lighter, simpler in concept and famous for its high-revving sound. You can compare both cars in our 3D experience — choose the model in the Configure panel.
Figures are manufacturer data for European-market cars and may vary by market, equipment and model year.