Theo Austin
BMW took a fine-toothed comb and raked a slightly new face for the 2021 BMW M5. That includes new headlights that mimic the 3 Series, a slightly more aggressive front grille, larger front, and rear aprons, and sharper taillights to seal the deal. You will also notice high-gloss black accents adorning every crevice, along with new available paint colors, including this Motegi Red featured in the press photographs.
Inside carries with it the same aesthetics but with upgraded tech. The center display is now larger, measuring 12.3-inches for a better widescreen effect, and there are two new buttons on the center console for easier access to system settings and readouts on the head-up display.
But the biggest news is the axing of the “base” M5 if you can even call it that. 2021 models will only be available in the full beans Competition trim, meaning 617-hp and 553 lb-ft from its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. Power hasn’t changed, which isn’t exactly a bad thing. When we drove the M5 Competition last year, we did not complain once about its output rating, nor did we ever get bored of its hair-splitting acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, a number encroaching into supercar territory.
All-wheel drive is still standard fare, carrying the ability to disconnect the front axle for some sideways fun. But a brand new feature is Track Mode, which disables everything that might distract you from carving the perfect apex, including the audio system, center display, and driver assistance features.
In addition to these features, the BMW M5 Competition comes with black styling details underlining its elite status. The BMW kidney grille surround, the mesh on the M gills, the exterior mirror caps, and the additional rear spoiler on the boot lid all have a High-gloss Black finish, and the rear apron includes Black inserts. Black M5 Competition badges adorn the kidney grille, the gills, and the boot lid, while the door sill plates are illuminated. The tailpipes of the standard M Sport exhaust system are finished in Black Chrome.
The large center air intake is hexagonal in shape and incorporates the oil cooler along with the radar sensor for the Active Cruise Control (ACC) system. The new L‑shaped light tubes searing in narrow streaks towards the kidney grille add a dynamic flourish to the newly designed LED headlights,
The 2021 BMW M5 Competition will reach American dealers later this summer, with prices starting at 91.500 USD.
