SPIED At Bimmerfest East 2013 — FIRST REAL-LIFE Shots Of The 2014 BMW M5

Bimmerfest East wasn't all about crushing beer cans on your skull and showing your love for the Bavarians. It also was a good spot to do some car spotting, apparently. That's because we noticed BMW brought an all-new 2014 BMW M5 sporting what appears to be an all-new color and the all-new Competition Package.

At first I thought it was Sakhir Orange but upon a second and third glance now it seems too red to be Sakhir.

Though studio images have been released showing off the 2014 M5 and the Competition Package, this is the first time we're seeing it in the flesh. Sadly though it wasn't equipped with the new lightweight wheels instead it was shod with the 20-inch lightweight wheels from the 2013 model. In addition, no carbon ceramic big brake kit on this specific vehicle.

However, it was nice to get an up close look at the new changes:

- Updated front kidney grille
- Updated LED headlights
- M6 steering wheel
- New exhaust

Though most of these changes are particularly...not a big deal...I will say this: the new exhaust for the competition package is MUCH bigger than the stock vehicle. In addition to the larger tips, it also appears to have the "M" logo laser-etched.

Bimmerfest East 2013 Photo Gallery

dayday - 7/20/2013 11:30:28 PM

+3 Boost

this looks nice! the current version just won a comparison test versus RS6 and CLS AMG. Looking forward to the competition package!

Satriani1 - 7/21/2013 4:23:43 PM

-4 Boost

dayday: "Looking forward to the competition package!"

According tot BMW, the Competition Package bumps up HP to 575 hp to increase acceleration only one-tenth second (from 4.3 seconds to 4.2 seconds 0 to 100 km / h). The E63 AMG S-4Matic sedan can sprint in 4.6 seconds to 100 km/h. Audi will also release RS7 Plus and RS6 Plus models (Audi's version of AMG S 4Matics) with increases in power to about 600 HP, speed,lower weight, etc.

Hopefully the other components of the Competition Package (suspension, brakes, wheels, speed, etc.) make the M5 a better track car at Nurburgring.

No independent driver/tester has broken the 8 minute barrier at Nurburgring with the M5. The 7:55 lap was done by a BMW factory driver.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html

Even independent Nurburging expert Horst von Saurma managed only 8:05 in the 2011 M5. This guy set the fastest Nurburgring lap times for many cars you see on that fastest laps list.
http://www.sportauto.de/supertest/bmw-m5-im-supertest-im-rauch-der-sinne-5585295.html?show=2

Hopefully the Competition Package helps the M5 finally become the first standard edition BMW (i.e., not limited editions like the M3 GTS and CSL) to break the 8 minute barrier in an independent test.

Satriani1 - 7/22/2013 2:14:35 AM

-3 Boost

Oops, meant to write the E63 AMG S-4Matic sedan can sprint in 3.6 seconds to 100 km/h (not 4.6 secs) according to the manufacturer and Auto Zeitung car mag.
http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-vergleichstest/mercedes-e-63-amg-s-4matic-212-bmw-m5-f10-2013-sportlimousine-sportwagen-vergleich/fazit

In the Autozeiting comparo, both tested cars must have had some options because the base price of the Mercedes is 118,405 euros and the BMW is 103,500 euros (the Competition Package is 8,800 euros, so it probably wasn't an option on the BMW).

Satriani1 - 7/21/2013 4:28:44 PM

-4 Boost

dayday: "the current version just won a comparison test versus RS6 and CLS AMG"

You are referring to the dubious Autobild 'comparison test' of the M5 sedan, CLS AMG Shooting Brake and RS6 Avant wagon by the author Georg Karcher... which has gotten Bimmer fans deleriously waving victory.
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/bmw-m5-mercedes-cls-63-amg-audi-rs-6-avant-v8-test-4175597.html

Here is why that Autobild test is a dubious test.

- First, Karcher set up BMW M5 for the victory by comparing the M5 sedan against two other different types of cars: the RS6 Avant wagon and the Mercedes CLS AMG Shooting Brake. Why did Karcher choose the CLS Shooting Brake instead of the available CLS Coupe which is closer in shape to a sedan? The CLS AMG Coupe is claimed to be 0.1 sec km/h faster and 0.2L/100km more fuel efficient... the CLS AMG Coupe 4MAtic is claimed to be 0.6 sec km/h faster while the CLS AMG Coupe S-4MAtic is 0.7 seconds faster than the CLS AMG Shooting Brake.

...Just take a look at the backsides of the three cars Karcher compared...
http://tinyurl.com/m88a6qw

...A proper test would have pitted sedan against sedan... shooting brake against shooting brake... wagon against wagon.

...such as Autozetung's comparo between the facelifted E63 AMG S-4Matic sedan and M5 sedan -- which the Mercedes sedan won
http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-vergleichstest/mercedes-e-63-amg-s-4matic-212-bmw-m5-f10-2013-sportlimousine-sportwagen-vergleich/fazit

...such as Car and Driver's sedan against sedan comparo in S6 vs M5 vs E63 AMG, which the Audi sedan won
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/2013-audi-s6-vs-2013-bmw-m5-2012-mercedes-benz-e63-amg-1.pdf
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2013-audi-s6-vs-2013-bmw-m5-2012-mercedes-benz-e63-amg-comparison-test

- Second, Karcher did not do an instrumented test: the numbers Karcher gave were claimed manufacturer specs from the Audi, BMW and Mercedes website and spec sheets on the cars: The numbers Karcher gave on the RS6 ("lightning fast 3.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h", "at 9.8 liters, the heaviest car will need one to three tenths less fuel than rivals in the race track and the field") came straight out of the RS6 specs claimed by Audi. BMW claims the M5 sedan accelerates 4.3 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h and fuel consumption is 9.9 liters per 100 kilometers. Mercedes claims the CLS Shooting Brake accelerates 4.3 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and fuel consumption is 10.1 liters per 100 kilometers.

- Third, Karcher just did a flimsy first drive comparison and gave his brief opinions on the three cars only in the conclusion -- which were of course biased in favor of BMW. Yet he still pretends this was a 'test', lol.

Objective car fans saw this Autobild 'test' for what it is... yawn.
http://www.germancarforum.com/community/threads/autobild-bmw-m5-vs-audi-rs6-avant-vs-cls63-sb-amg.48897/

Satriani1 - 7/21/2013 4:34:38 PM

-4 Boost

How do the facelifted 5 Series, facelifted E Class and the same A6 stack up against each other? No major German car has compared all three cars in one test, which is surprising. However, the the largest German car mags each tested two of the three cars in three seperate comparos...

In comparing the facelifted 5 Series (535i) and E class (E400), Autobild chose the Mercedes E Class.
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/bmw-5er-mercedes-e-klasse-test-4287395.html

But in comparing the facelifted E class (E400) against the Audi A6 3.0 TFSI, Auto Motor und Sport chose the Audi A6.
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/vergleichstest/audi-a6-30-tfsi-jaguar-xf-30-v6-und-mercedes-e-400-business-class-mit-v6-benziner-power-7252487.html?show=2

But in comparing the facelifted 5 Series (535i) against the Audi A6 3.0 TFSI, Auto Zeitung chose the Audi A6.
http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-vergleichstest/audi-a6-bmw-5er-jaguar-xf-lexus-gs-oberklasse-limousinen-test-2013/fazit

mclaren428 - 7/21/2013 10:05:38 PM

+3 Boost

You missed this test. In comparing 3.0 liter diesel models Autobild chose the 5 series over the E class, and A6.

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/audi-a6-bmw-5er-mercedes-e-klasse-test-4268845.html

Satriani1 - 7/22/2013 1:50:11 AM

-5 Boost

mclaren428: Which part of "DIESEL" do you not understand? In the U.S., what percentage of BMW 5 series sold and Audi A6 sold are diesel? The three tests I gave above (A6 3.0 TFSI - 535i - E400) related to petrol engines, which form the vast majority of these cars sold in the U.S. since at present only BMW sells a small number of diesel 5 series cars.

You missed this test: in comparing 3.0 liter diesel models in 2011 (when the new A6 came out), Auto Zeitung chose the Audi A6 3.0 TDI Quattro over the BMW 530d xDrive. When the new A6 TDI came out, it was superior to the BMW 5 Series diesel.
http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-vergleichstest/audi-a6-bmw-5er-diesel-test/fazit

BMW probably made some improvements for its facelifted 530 diesel this year, just as next year Audi probably will make improvements to its facelifted A6 to stay ahead of BMW and Mercedes. That's why Audi is the best selling German luxury car in Germany and in Europe -- its European customers trust Audi to make the changes.

The Autobild test is the first German car mag test of the diesel cars in this segment. The most critical measure for the Autobild disel car test is how the car performs on fuel consumption and costs -- the tested rear-wheel drive BMW 530d scored best in the test on both.

However, this is what the Autobild test does not tell you:

- Autobild simply used the fuel consumption ratings of the cars given by the manufacturers and did not do any independent testing.

- Autobild did not use chosen a 700 euros cheaper Audi with the same fuel consumption -- Audi 3.0 TDI clean diesel with S tronic transmission (52,100 euros, 5.8 L/100 km). [in Germany, Audi's A6 3.0 TDI has 6 combinations involving three engine sizes (204 PS, 245 PS, 313 PS) and four transmissions (6 speed auto, multitronic, 8 speed auto, 7-speed S tronic).

- Autobild compared two RWD facelifted models in the RWD BMW 530d with Automatic Transmission Steptronic transmission (51,500 euros, 5.1 L/100km) and RWD Mercedes E 350 Bluetec with 7G-Tronic Plus transmission (54,710 euros, 5,5 L/100km)... with the AWD unfacelifted Audi 3.0 TDI clean diesel with S tronic transmission (52.800 euros, 5.8 L/100 km).

- Had Autobild compared apples to apples (all AWD), then BMW 530d xDrive (54,100 euros, 5.4 L/100km) and Mercedes E 350 Bluetec 4Matic with 7G-Tronic Plus transmission (57.447 euros, 6.0 L/100km)... might have led to victory for the Audi 3.0 TDI clean diesel with S tronic transmission (52,800 euros, 5.8 L/100 km). 1,300 euros of cost savings buys a lot of diesel even at a loss of 0.4 L/100 km. [The cheaper Audi I mentioned earlier would have given 2,000 euros cost savings]

Satriani1 - 7/22/2013 1:50:11 AM

-5 Boost

BMW4me4ever - 7/22/2013 7:31:40 PM

+4 Boost

In that Car & Driver test the M5 was clocked quicker than the S6? Yet you only highlight the Audi benefits which is mostly won due to cost.

Maybe my math was off a bit when looking at the specifications, yet there you go using Car & Driver again when you have clearly stated how much their comparisons are Rubbish. lol ...

Just to refresh since you have a hard time reading & love to copy and paste figures here is the breakdown ...

Audi BMW M5
1.2 0 to 30 1.6
3.7 0 to 60 3.7
9.2 0 to 100 8.1
16.1 0 to 130 13.1
12.1@114 1/4 mile 11.9@123
4.9 5 to 60 4.5
2.1 30 to 50 top gear 2.0
2.6 50 to 70 top hear 2.4

.87 @ 41.6 mph .91 @ 43.1 mph

*** just based on the figures the M5 is ALOT quicker. 3 seconds to 130 is faster even the 1/4 mile having a trap speed at 8 mph faster clearly shows the M5 is a lot more of a performance sedan. And that is why there is a RS6 which is more of a direct comparison to the M5. Now you add 15 more horsepower, a lowerered suspension, improved mapping of the stability control should make the M5 a couple tenths quicker which means to 130 the M5 is a good 6 seconds faster than the S6....

Satriani1 - 7/23/2013 4:35:04 AM

-3 Boost

BMW4me4ever: "In that Car & Driver test the M5 was clocked quicker than the S6? Yet you only highlight the Audi benefits which is mostly won due to cost. Maybe my math was off a bit when looking at the specifications, yet there you go using Car & Driver again when you have clearly stated how much their comparisons are Rubbish. lol ... "

Your disingenuous weaseling knows no bounds.

I did not "only highlight the Audi benefits which is mostly won due to cost" as you claim

All I did was to state that the Audi won a certain C&D test. Everyone can read the test to realize that it was C&D that reached those conclusions, not me.

This was what I wrote: "such as Car and Driver's sedan against sedan comparo in S6 vs M5 vs E63 AMG, which the Audi sedan won"
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/2013-audi-s6-vs-2013-bmw-m5-2012-mercedes-benz-e63-amg-1.pdf
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2013-audi-s6-vs-2013-bmw-m5-2012-mercedes-benz-e63-amg-comparison-test

I love your selective quoting from the test.

Audi S6's final score was 213 points out of 240 points (first place) while the BMW M5's final score was only 193 points (third place & last place).

Audi S6 comprehensively beat BMW on 12 of the 22 Final Results measured (FUN TO DRIVE, STEERING, BRAKE FEEL, TRANSMISSION, FUEL ECONOMY, PRICE, EXTERIOR STYLING, INTERIOR STYLING, REAR SEAT COMFORT, features/amenities, fit and finish, ergonomics). Audi tied BMW on 6 of the 22 measures (Handling, Ride, Driver Comfort, Rear Seat Space, Engine NVH, Cargo Space). The 420 HP Audi lost on only 4 measures to the 560 HP BMW (rebates, flexibity, 1/4 mile acceleration, perforrmance) in each case by only 1 point each.

All your acceleration, slalom and skidpad numbers are already considered in the two measures 1/4 mile acceleration and performance, for which BMW was given 1 extra point for each measure. Still it's impressive that the S6 was faster to 30 mph, just as fast to 60 mph and only 0.2 seconds slower to the quarter mile.

I'm glad you feel it's wonderful that the M5 is 3 seconds quicker to 130 mph. Now take a good long look at this link, which tells you that the speed limit in half of the U.S. is 65-70 mph and the other half is 75 mph (only a small portion of the Texas and Utah road networks have higher limits 80 to 85 mph). So you're not going to be speeding at 130 mph, not even 100 mph given these speed limits. This is not the Autobahn. At these U.S. speed limits, the Audi S6 has almost all of the capability of the M5 -- especially in those states where the sped limit is only 65 mph.
http://tinyurl.com/29fuhad

Car and Driver also tested both cars on the same 4.1 mile racetrack at different times using different drivers (the only track that the S6 was tested on) and concluded that it was only on a track that the BMW had a slight advantage: M5 lap was 3:05.4 min while the S6 was 3:09.8. It's worth watching both video clips simultaneously side by side, first with the sound turned off

Satriani1 - 7/23/2013 4:36:09 AM

-3 Boost

Car and Driver also tested both cars on the same 4.1 mile racetrack at different times using different drivers (the only track that the S6 was tested on) and concluded that it was only on a track that the BMW had a slight advantage: M5 lap was 3:05.4 min while the S6 was 3:09.8. It's worth watching both video clips simultaneously side by side, first with the sound turned off, then with the sound back on to realize that there was only marginal difference between the 420 HP S6 and 560 HP M5 over 4.1 miles of high-speed driving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srqs5_aySg8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vli2Cd3Ux0
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/virginia_international_raceway.html

The flexibility about having the 420 HP S6's turbocharged 4.0 TFSI engine is that it's basically the same engine in the 560 HP RS6 -- several tuners have programs to give the S6 a HP gain of about 100 HP, 130 lbs-ft torque.

Here's what you also left out:
- the S6 is $21,000 cheaper than the M5 in base price
- the AWD S6 is 22 lbs lighter than the RWD M5
- the S6 has more rear passenger volume than the M5
- the S6's braking distance is 3 ft shorter than the M5
- the S6 is more fuel efficient than the M5
- the S6 is quieter inside the cabin than the M5

The RS6 Avant is a wagon, so it really isn't a direct comparison to the M5 sedan. The closest is the RS7 sportback, but it's still not a sedan. Audi erred in not making an RS6 sedan.

BMW4me4ever - 7/23/2013 3:59:14 PM

+3 Boost

Satriani1 - 7/24/2013 12:12:04 PM

-1 Boost

BMW4me4ever: If it's "competitive" you want based on a naive reading of this track's numbers, then you should not buy the BMW M5. Instead buy the Audi RS5 or Porsche Panamera Turbo S or Cadillac CTS-V or Mercedes CLS AMG with Performance Package -- all of which posted better laptimes than the overrated M5.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/virginia_international_raceway.html

You're jumping to conclusions that "4 seconds is a huge gap" because you're making a big, naive assumption that both cars were equally driven the fastest possible to the limits of each car's ability, lol.

It's understandable for you to expect the 560 HP M5 should outrun the 420 HP S6 on a 4.1 mile track -- based on theory. But in the real world the 450 HP RS5 (the car you first brought up) actually was faster than the M5 on the same track -- when both cars were driven by the same driver on the same day! This is interesting because C&D's instrumented tests of the RS5 shows that it accelerates slower than both the S6 and M5 throughout the entire band: RS5 is 4.4 sec to 60 mph (S6 is 3.7, M5 is 3.7); 10.4 sec to 100 mph (S6 is 9.2, M5 is 8.1); 18.5 sec to 130 mph (S6 is 16.1, M5 is 13.1); 12.8 @ 111 mph to quartermile (S6 is 12.1 at 115mph, M5 is 11.9 at 123); 70 to 0 mph braking is 158 ft (S6 is 157 ft, M5 is 160 ft) -- and Horst von Saurma's slalom tests showed the RS5 and M5 ran it at the same 132 km/h speed].

It would have been more meaningful if the same driver had lapped both cars. The M5 and S6 were lapped two weeks apart using two different C&D drivers. Looking at the videos, the C&D technical editor KC Colwell who drove the M5 seemed to be the slightly better track driver than Robinson who drove the S6. A better driver in the S6 might have led to a better laptime because I can see that S6 wasn't driven to its limits. Given that Colwell in the RS5 outran Colwell in the M5 (he was also faster than the M3) , it makes me wonder what he might have done in the S6.

That's why a racing expert will tell you that 4 seconds on a 4.1 mile track does not indicate a huge gap between the cars. If Horst von Saurma were to grade both cars at the 4.1 mile Virginia racetrack, he'd probably give the M5 7 points out of 10 and the S6 6 out of 10. After all, von Saurma gave the M5 a grade of 7 points (out of 10) for its 8:05 min run on the 13-mile Nurburgring and he assesses 6 points for cars that run at 8:20 min. [von Saurma drives stock cars with standard tires, no roll cages, no mods, etc -- his time of 8:05 in the M5 is probably the fastest on the Nurburgring for an independent driver in an independent test, as that 7:55 time was set by a BMW test driver who was testing pre-production M5 often on the Nurburgring while it was under development]
http://img3.sportauto.de/BMW-M5-Rundenzeit-Nordschleife-lightbox-fb6ee50b-623366.jpg
http://www.sportauto.de/supertest/bmw-m5-im-supertest-im-rauch-der-sinne-5585295.html?show=2
http://tinyurl.com/bkwgaph

genesee - 7/21/2013 10:41:52 PM

+1 Boost

it should shed 500lbs, proper hydraulic steering and shrink almost a foot than we have proper m5. world is evolving in the wrong direction. everything is bigger and heavier.
never the less still nice car.

BMW4me4ever - 7/23/2013 11:39:02 AM

+3 Boost

lol ... So you are saying that the M5 is not quicker than the S6? I love how you quote track times when Audi loses and yet when I bring up the performance figures in that comparison test you counter that with saying that the streets in the US don't warrant a speed in that way and you use Texas as a benchmark for speed limit.

Yet having lived in Texas, I can tell you that the Average highway speed limit is 75 mph. On 635 in Dallas the speed limit is 70 mph until you get our by the Airport and it reduces down to 65 mph. I-75 which runs from Houston up to Oklahoma has an average speed limit of 75 mph with some areas increased up to the 85 mph limit. Most people travel at least 80 to 85 mph on the highways. Dallas North Tollway the speed limit is 75 mph. I30 has been increased up to 85 mph which runs east and west of dallas ...

Also, why are all your counters based on the same information? Do you have your own opinion as I am sure it would take to long to write it down, hence why every article you copy and paste.

Isnt this article about the 2014 BMW M5? who cares about the performance of an Audi S6? RS5? ... when there is an article about the Audi, then I would expect you to talk about it. This is so ridiculous on each and every article.

Satriani1 - 7/24/2013 12:23:30 PM

-1 Boost

BMW4me4ever: "Isnt this article about the 2014 BMW M5? who cares about the performance of an Audi S6? RS5? ... when there is an article about the Audi, then I would expect you to talk about it. This is so ridiculous on each and every article."

RS5? What RS5? You're the first poster who brought up the RS5. You must have seen the RS5's time listed on the Virginia Raceway, and were upset that it was faster than your M5 for $22,000 less base price.

What's really ridiculous is that this is the third time you have disingenuously pretended that my comments were not a response to comments of earlier posters. How can you keep saying these things with a straight face? [The first poster dayday's post: "the current version (of M5) just won a comparison test versus RS6 and CLS AMG" clearly referred to the questionable Autobild comparo between an Audi RS6 wagon, Merc CLS63 AMG sportback and M5 sedan.]

Bottom line, Car and Driver concluded that the Audi S6 scored 213 total points and the BMW M5 193 total points. For Performance, C&D gave the S6 19 points and gave the M5 20 points, after assessing both cars in its instrumented tests, real-world driving and track driving -- as well as after considering the subjective opinions and results of all test drivers who drove both cars.
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/2013-audi-s6-vs-2013-bmw-m5-2012-mercedes-benz-e63-amg-1.pdf
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2013-audi-s6-page-4
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2013-bmw-m5-page-2

Other tests have shown the Audi S6 to be faster in acceleration tests than the M5. E.g., PBS Motorweek tested both the Audi S6 and the BMW M5 for the same show/episode (see link): the S6 (3.8 sec) was 0.3 sec faster than the M5 (4.1 sec) in 0 to 60 mph acceleration; the S6 (12.2 sec @114mph) was 0.1 sec faster than the M5 (12.3 sec @116mph) in quarter mile acceleration; and the S6 did quite well in the slalom as well.
http://www.motorweek.org/reviews/road_tests/2013_audi_s6
http://www.motorweek.org/reviews/road_tests/2013_bmw_m5
http://video.pbs.org/video/2365023984/

The M5's HP advantages at 100 mph and 130 mph are useless on the US freeways and streets -- outside of a race track. What I said was that the S6 would be very close to the M5's performance even on U.S. freeways, where the speed limit is 65-70 mph in half of the U.S. and 75 mph in the other half, even if people travel an extra 5 to 10 mph over the limit (I did not "use Texas as a benchmark for speed limit" as you claim -- I just said that there are higher speed limits on a tiny part of Texas and part of Utah).

All things considered (even race track), no wonder Car and Driver chose the S6. Even on a racetrack, the 560 HP M5's laptime was only 4 seconds ahead of the 420 HP S6 -- despite the M5 costing $21,000 more in base price. The smart car buyer would chose the S6 (it should comes with the torque-vectoring sport rear differential) with the $21,000 cost savings. He'd use the $21,0000 to g

Satriani1 - 7/24/2013 12:28:57 PM

-1 Boost

All things considered (even race track), no wonder Car and Driver chose the S6. Even on a racetrack, the 560 HP M5's laptime was only 4 seconds ahead of the 420 HP S6 -- despite the M5 costing $21,000 more in base price. The smart car buyer would chose the S6 (it should comes with the torque-vectoring sport rear differential) with the $21,000 cost savings. He'd use the $21,0000 to get 'dynamic steering' and an advanced 'sports suspension with Dynamic ride control' if these are available as options -- and go after-market to buy the best possible high-performance tires on 20" wheels, tune up the horsepower and torque by 100, and if desired get ceramic brakes. And he'd still have $5 to $7K left over.

BMW4me4ever: "Also, why are all your counters based on the same information? Do you have your own opinion as I am sure it would take to long to write it down, hence why every article you copy and paste."

If only you would stop repeating the same nonsense you parrot from your BMW sales playbook...

BMW4me4ever - 7/23/2013 11:39:47 AM

+3 Boost

Anyways, love the Sakhir color on the exterior and look forward to seeing it with the Competition Package.

Satriani1 - 7/24/2013 12:27:59 PM

-1 Boost

Yes, it's a nice color.

Doubt if the Competition Package with a 15 HP bump and other adjustments will help the M5 against the Mercedes E63 AMG S 4MAtic or Audi RS7/RS6 (in any case, Audi will be coming out with its own RS7 Plus and RS6 Plus with power bumps up to about 600 HP, weight savings wtc.)