Isn't it great, a BMW M5? Porsonally I'm a big fan of cars like this one.
Very business-like at first sight, but underneath the skin there's a bit of an Hell's Angel.
But it's getting even better, because I'll be meeting up with Sandor today, and he's promised me something even more attractive.
I'm very curious to know with what he'll enter this arena.
Good morning! -Good morning! Ow great, you've brought a Smurf along!
Isn't it great? I thought: blue, blue-er, blue-est: the first points are mine. - You can say that again: blue...
But let's be honest: this car is no comparison to a M5, dude. You might think so by looking at its silhouette, but it's just as strong (550 bhp), just as fast as the BMW. So I say: bring it on!
I think it will fall on it's little blue knees for this German fury. -We'll see!
I tried to act cool out there, but I do think Sandor has a point. Because in earlier tests the Jaguar XF-R - the actual M5-competitor - wasn't good enough to beat the last M5.
And when we listen to Mr. Van Es - which we should - that XKR-S comes much closer to an M5 in the dynamic part.
I can talk endlessly about it, but BMW has once again made a very impressive sports saloon with this M5. It's better than it's predecessor, even if it's only because this machine can be driven in all circumstances.
You can adjust the settings to your likings of the moment: throttle response, the firmness of the dampers, the steering feel - which is a bit too artificial in all settings.
And then you can alter the characteristics of the transmission... And with all settings in Comfort, you're just driving a hugely fast 5-Series.
But then... you switch all settings to Sport Plus. Dampers, steering, the gearbox. And then: there is your sports car!
And that gearbox gives such great punches: it's makes me think back to the great, brutal SMG-transmission in the last M5.
In that way, this M5 doesn't lack any of the impressive experience that you want in this car.
To start with Roland's last point: he's totally correct. The transmission is phenomenal. And that's exactly what differs this M5 from other BMWs. Which makes this an M.
What makes that gearbox so good? It does what you want it to do: you brake, shift down - and it immediately shifts down.
And then - especcially in Sport - it holds on to the gear it's in. It doesn't shift by itself if you don't want it to. It has no own life.
It does what you want it to do, and is does so directly. Fantastic!
I do find the shifting flaps a bit too small. But in this case it's no problem, because you have a gear shifter here that works in just the right way.
As one of the few car makers, BMW does it correctly: pull it backwards is shifting to a higher gear, pushing it away is shifting down. This is the only correct way.
What makes it an M as well? The way you can adjust it: compared to the previous M5 it has become easier to fit it to your likings. The last one was a bit too complicated for most owners.
I do have to complain a bit: with all settings in Sport Plus - all on diehard - I do expect a sportier drive than I get now.
I steer into a bend and the car just slides through over it's front wheels. Off course I can do a lot by using the throttle with all the horsepower on the back wheels.
You can let the car get into a nice little drift, sure, but the nose takes too long to set itself when entering a corner. There's too much body roll.
Here, once again, it's understeered when entering the corner. That's not really what I want!
Just as that M5, this Jaguar has this sort of dual character. In between a gentlemen and a hooligan, so to say.
But this car gives me a totally different feeling. And that's not only by the way it sounds, which is amazing by the way!
Just listen to that! Hahahaa, that sound is wonderful!
The big difference is the way this machine steers. This XKR-S is way more agile and direct than the M5.
You steer into a bend and it does exactly what you want, and then you can thrust it through the corner using the throttle in a magnificient way. Then the party is on in this car, great to smoke tyres. The interaction between the throttle and the steering is really phenomenal.
Sideways a bit, no problem, lift the gas, counter steer, catch it and you just continue the drift. So easy can it be, as long as you know how to handle it. Because it does make this Jag a slightly less accessible drive. But I love it!
Yeah, then you do need to be able to handle that fury. This Jag is more playful, more exciting and more sharp than the M5, but it is a trickier car as well.
In fact, it is a pretty intimidating car. When you don't have the skills like Sandor van Es - and many of us just don't - this is a car you handle with a certain amout of respect.
Oh, but as soon as you know how to tame this thing, you discover it to be an unbelievably spectacular drive!
The level of dynamics in this car is so much higher than in the M5. Just the engine is biblical: such a thundering maniac. That sound is amazing!
You just talked about the combination between a gentlemen and a hooligan, and in that way I think there is no better car than the M5...
I do agree. When you see how easy it is to drive fast in this car with all those 560 bhp's on the rear wheels, BMW Motorsport has once again done a very, very good job. And it takes four passengers as well!
But I do like a bit of a challenge, so I'd take that hooligan to be honest. -Haha, well there it is! Enjoy!