Quick take
- 717 hp and 738 lb-ft combined, per BMW USA's published figures — the most power an M5 has ever offered, from a plug-in hybrid version of the familiar twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8.
- 25 miles of EPA-rated all-electric range, meaning genuinely short commutes are possible on electricity alone before the V8 needs to join in.
- M xDrive all-wheel drive is standard, with adjustable 4WD, 4WD Sport, and 2WD modes — the same layered approach to drive-mode flexibility BMW uses across its current M-car lineup.
- Curb weight lands around 5,390 lbs, a real and widely discussed consequence of adding a hybrid battery and motor to an already substantial sedan.
What the M Hybrid system actually adds
BMW's own materials describe the M5's powertrain as "M Hybrid": a high-performance twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 (the M TwinPower Turbo unit BMW has used across recent M5 and M8 generations) paired with a 194-hp electric motor integrated into the transmission. Combined output is rated at 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque for the US-spec car — figures that make this the most powerful M5 BMW has built, ahead of every prior V8 or V10 generation.
The hybrid system isn't purely a performance add-on, though: BMW's materials specifically call out a 25-mile EPA-estimated all-electric range, positioning the M5 as capable of genuinely emissions-free short trips, not just brief electric-assist bursts. That's a meaningfully larger battery and electric motor than a mild-hybrid system, which is part of why the car's weight has become a talking point.
M xDrive, and the 2WD mode BMW keeps building in
M xDrive comes standard, giving the M5 all-weather usability that a rear-drive-only super-sedan couldn't offer. BMW's spec sheet lists three selectable modes: 4WD for full all-wheel-drive grip, 4WD Sport for a more rear-biased, playful setup, and a 2WD mode that sends power to the rear wheels alone — mirroring the same tiered approach BMW has built into other current M xDrive-equipped cars, including the M2 and M3.
The weight conversation BMW can't spec-sheet away
At roughly 5,390 lbs, the current M5 is meaningfully heavier than prior generations, and that added mass — largely attributable to the hybrid battery and motor hardware — has been a consistent point of discussion since the car's original 2024 launch. BMW's own performance figures (3.4-second 0-60, 717 hp) suggest the extra power broadly compensates for the extra weight in a straight line, but weight affects a car's behavior in ways a 0-60 time doesn't capture: how it changes direction, how the brakes hold up on a track day, how the tires wear.
This is a case where BMW's own published numbers and the car's felt character in the real world are two different questions, and only one of them is answerable from a spec sheet.
Sedan and Touring, launched together
Unlike some past generations where the wagon variant arrived later, BMW launched the M5 Touring alongside the sedan at the car's November 2024 market debut, with both sharing the identical M Hybrid powertrain. BMW's US pricing lists the Touring at $125,300, a modest $2,000 over the sedan's $123,300 starting point — a smaller premium than some competitors charge for a wagon body style, and one that suggests BMW is treating the Touring as a first-class variant rather than a niche afterthought.
More views: the world premiere, and both body styles together
BMW's press library includes photography from the M5's original world premiere event at Pebble Beach — the additional views below show the sedan and Touring together, plus a coastal front-on shot of the sedan.
What a press release cannot tell you
Everything above is BMW describing its own car, and the honest caveats are worth stating plainly: no outlet has published an independently verified 0-60 time for the US-spec car, nobody outside BMW's own testing has evaluated how the added hybrid weight affects steering feel or track-day brake fade over repeated hard laps, and the real-world usability of 25 miles of EV range depends heavily on driving style and conditions in ways an EPA figure can't fully predict.
The gap between the global press-release figures (up to 727 hp in some markets) and the US-spec figures BMW publishes on bmwusa.com (717 hp) is also worth flagging directly — this article uses the US-market number throughout, since that's the car actually sold in the US, but it's a reminder that a single global press release doesn't always describe the car in every market identically.
| Specification | BMW's figure (US-spec) |
|---|---|
| Model | BMW M5 Sedan / M5 Touring |
| Engine | 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with M Hybrid electric motor |
| Combined power | 717 hp |
| Combined torque | 738 lb-ft |
| Electric motor | 194 hp, integrated into the transmission |
| EV range | 25 miles (EPA-estimated) |
| Drive | M xDrive AWD with 4WD / 4WD Sport / 2WD modes |
| 0-60 mph | 3.4 seconds |
| Top speed | 155 mph (190 mph with M Driver's Package) |
| Curb weight | ~5,390 lbs |
| US price (Sedan) | $123,300 MSRP |
| US price (Touring) | $125,300 MSRP |
Common questions
Is the BMW M5 a plug-in hybrid?
Yes — it uses BMW's M Hybrid system with a 194-hp electric motor and a battery large enough for a BMW-published 25-mile EPA-estimated all-electric range, distinct from a mild-hybrid or non-plug-in hybrid setup.
Why do some sources list the M5 at 727 hp instead of 717 hp?
BMW's global press materials for other markets cite a higher combined figure (727 hp / 1,000 Nm). The US-market car, as specified on bmwusa.com, is rated at 717 hp / 738 lb-ft — this article uses the US figure throughout since that's the car sold domestically.
Does the M5 Touring have a different powertrain than the sedan?
No — per BMW's materials, both share the identical M Hybrid powertrain, output, and M xDrive system. The Touring's $2,000 price premium reflects the wagon body style, not a performance difference.
Can you turn off all-wheel drive?
Yes — the M5 offers a 2WD mode within its M xDrive system, sending power to the rear wheels only, alongside standard 4WD and a more rear-biased 4WD Sport mode.
Has DopamineKart driven this car?
No. Everything in this article reflects BMW's own published press materials and official US specifications, not a first-hand drive.
On paper, BMW's case is straightforward: more power than any M5 before it, genuine EV range for daily use, and the all-weather usability M xDrive has offered for several generations now. The added weight from the hybrid hardware is the one variable BMW's own numbers can't fully settle — 717 hp and a 3.4-second 0-60 suggest the car is plenty quick in a straight line, but how a heavier M5 feels changing direction or holding up on a demanding road is a question only real testing answers.
We'll revisit this once independent testing exists.
Sources. BMW PressClub USA — The All-New 2025 BMW M5, BMW PressClub Global — The All-New BMW M5 Touring photo compilation, BMW USA — M5 Sedan. Technical figures and pricing reflect BMW's own published data for the US market. Photography is BMW press material, used for editorial reporting and credited per image. No affiliate links appear on this page. This article contains no affiliate links and no buy buttons — DopamineKart does not monetise vehicle coverage.
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