BMW has launched the M5 Competition in India as a CBU, at Rs 1.55 crore (ex-showroom). The second ‘Competition’ badged M car (after the M2 Competition) gets the same engine as on the M5, however, this time around it gets 13 more bhp, for a total 616bhp output, made at 6000rpm (as opposed to the M5’s 5600rpm). Meanwhile, the torque figure remains the same, at 750Nm.
The engine in the M5 Competition (as on the M5) is mated to an eight-speed transmission that can be shifted via either the gear lever or the steering column-mounted paddles. However, the M5 Competition is 0.1 second faster than the M5 to 100kmph from standstill (3.3 seconds as opposed to 3.4 on the M5) a gap that widens to 0.3 second (10.8 as opposed to 11.1 on the M5) when getting to 200kmph.
Moving to the exteriors, again, the M5 Competition looks very similar to the M5. However, whereas the M5 has a chrome-lined grille and side vents with body-coloured wing mirrors, the Competition makes do with an all-black theme. Additionally, there are the Competition badges on the side skirts and the rear. Lastly, the exhausts also get an all-black treatment.
In India, the M5 Competition squares off against the Mercedes Benz E 63 S AMG, which is slightly lower in power (603bhp) but makes more torque (850Nm).