What do you get when you take an ultimate driving machine like the BMW M5 and make “ultimater?”
It’s a trick question because if you live anywhere but in Europe, you don’t get it. The limited run M5 Competition Edition is BMW’s celebration of the legendary sedan’s latest generation, as it readies itself for mid-sized performance luxury battle against the Mercedes-AMG E63. Only 200 will be produced (either in Mineral White or Carbon Black) and they’re not crossing the ocean.
Befitting the name, the limited edition M5 will have the M Competition package (recalibrated steering and rear differential, and upgraded suspension with reprogrammed M chassis control) as standard equipment, with M Performance exterior (carbon fibre body add-ons such as mirror housings and rear spoiler, blacked out kidney grille and Jet Black 20-inch wheels) and interior (Black Merino leather upholstery with Opal White stitching, M Sport front seats with embroidered M5 logo, and the obligatory edition-sequence panel) bits.
The heart of the car is naturally the 600-hp 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 (with auto stop/start feature), which puts down 516 lb-ft of torque to take the luxury sedan to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds (the M5 does it in 4.4). Shifting is handled by a 7-speed double clutch automatic, with top speed electronically pegged at 250 km/h.
The Drive Control settings allow the driver to choose from Comfort for normal road use, Sport when a more dynamic driving style is preferred, and Sport Plus for the most extreme driving, such as on a race track.
Other standard bits include adaptive LED headlights, rearview camera, power operated trunk lid, front and rear heated seats, power operated rear window sunshade, and a Bang & Olufsen Advanced sound system.
Price in the UK is set at £100,995 (about $175,000 Canadian), and for those bemoaning the fact we don’t get this version of the M5, fear not. North America has been entrusted with the nearly identical M5 Pure Metal Silver Edition, limited to just 50 cars.
The presentation is pretty much identical except the car is painted in BMW’s most expensive paint option, with the interior grey Merino with accent stitching. Also, top speed is 305 km/h and it comes with a day’s worth of performance diving instruction.
The car is priced from $130,900 US.