The Plug-In Hybrid BMW M5 Makes 717 HP

The seventh-generation BMW M5 is unlike any before it.

That’s because the newest iteration of the performance division’s flagship model comes with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. That’s not the only thing that separates this version of the sporty sedan from its predecessor. It’s also more than a half-ton heavier.

The big story here is, of course, the new powertrain. The setup includes a twin-turbocharged V-8 and a permanently excited synchronous electric motor that combine to pump out 717 horses and 738 ft lbs of twist (577 hp comes from the engine, 194 hp from the e-motor). That’s significantly more grunt than the 627 hp and 553 ft lbs of torque produced by the outgoing M5 Competition. The electric motor is integrated into the eight-speed manual transmission and gets power from a 14.8-kWh battery housed in the vehicle floor.

With that much power available, it’s little surprise that the M5 offers impressive performance numbers. BMW says the four-door can rocket from zero to 60 in just 3.4 seconds, which is actually 0.2 seconds slower than its predecessor. The unchanged top speed, meanwhile, is 155 mph, but jumps to 190 mph with the marque’s optional Driver’s Package. In electric-only mode the sedan has a range of 25 miles and a top speed of 87 mph.

There is a cost to all that extra power, though. The new M5 is bigger and heavier than before. It’s 1.2 inches longer bumper to bumper, 0.9 inches longer between the wheels, 2.7 inches wider, and 2.1 inches taller. It also tips the scales at a ridiculous 5,390 pounds. That figure is 1,153 pounds more than the M5 its replacing (and 2,238 pounds more than the first iteration of the model). It’s even heavier than the current i5 M60 XDrive, which is an EV, and, as Motor1.com points out, the 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe, which is a very large SUV.

In classic M car fashion, the M5 sports a much more extreme look than the standard 5 Series and i5. Though it’s clear the sedans are all related, the high-performance version has a sharper and more sculpted look, especially up front where you’ll find a revised set of kidney grilles. The bold look won’t be for everyone, but it makes clear this is a vehicle designed and engineered to go fast. The interior, meanwhile, is much closer to the other 5 Series models, though it does feature a lot more carbon-fiber trim and a new three-spoke M steering wheel.

The M5 will make its debut at next month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, before going on sale later this fall. Pricing for the model starts at $120,675, which is $11,000 more than the previous version of the sedan cost.

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Click here for more photos of the plug-in hybrid 2025 BMW M5.