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      01-22-2015, 11:07 AM   #1
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Lightbulb We spy BMW M5 testing AWD xDrive!

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Spied: AWD xDrive testing on BMW M5!
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As we've shown you in recent spy photos, BMW is currently conducting cold climate testing for its prototypes in Northern Sweden where the F10 M5 has made an unexpected appearance. At first glance, there's nothing unique about this M5, but a quick peak underneath shows the big secret that it's hiding - an all-wheel-drive drivetrain! The undercarriage photo shows a driveshaft at the front wheels.

Does this mean that the F10 M5 will see an AWD xDrive model in its lifetime? Skeptics would say unlikely considering the next generation 5 Series (G30), upon which the next M5 will be based, will debut next year. There is also no M5 xDrive listed in BMWUSA's model map for the 2016 model year.

Rumors of a production AWD F10 M5 have been around since 2011. But, Albert Biermann, former BMW M chief engineer, addressed this on record by saying there will be no AWD for the current F10 M5 model. So, what we're looking at may be a prototype to test AWD for the next generation M5/M6.

While it's shocking to actually see the AWD drivetrain on the M5, the company has been softening us up for the possibility of a future AWD M5 / M6 for years. Statements from BMW representatives about the possibility go back to 2011 and the new head of BMW M, Franciscus van Meel spoke recently on the topic:

"If we continue the power increases in the future – especially regarding torque and also horsepower – then probably the next generation M5 and M6 will have so much torque and power that we need to think about those solutions."

"So if we go on a direction of four-wheel drive, for us it will really be like a rear-wheel drive with more traction."

"Whatever technology we’re talking about, the properties of an M car must remain rear-wheel drive; very agile, very precise. And I don’t like the phrase ‘four-wheel drive’. Emotionally it sounds stoic, neutral and understeery. If we are talking about M I think we’re talking about rear-wheel drive with added traction. We are looking into those things because power and torque will only increase, and we will run into the necessity of these kind of systems."




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F10 M5 with AWD xDrive




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