Video: New BMW M5 running final pre-production tests

BMW has posted a short video showcasing its next-gen M5 sedan and wagon running their conclusive tests as they journey from Munich, Germany all the way to Arjeplog, Sweden. The drivers honestly spoke about the aspects they thought still needed improvement and confirmed that the standard powertrain would be hybrid.

The prototypes shown in the video are not officially considered production-ready, but they were made at the company’s main assembly line and styled to look like previews of their mass-market counterparts. The bodies are still wrapped in camo, and the dashboards are draped over with fabric (or otherwise edited out in a video editor).

The new M5 sedan and wagon went to Sweden to see how well they would perform on slippery surfaces and in freezing weather. However, the way to the proving grounds ended up more of a challenge than the drivers expected. The drivers admitted that the cars were still not up to par and needed tuning before BMW M would approve of them. Specifically, the transmission was tested for smooth shifting and the on-board electronics for adequate, flawless performance in all scenarios. The engine needs to withstand the next series of cold start tests better, and the interior will need some extra noise proofing.

Considering the common uses of BMW family cars, the M5 Touring was given a particularly strict test routine that involved a whole day of being driven around snowy, slippery roads of Arjeplog. When it was over, a team of experts analyzed the collected data to see how well every unit and every system performed in these challenging conditions.

Among other things, the video confirms that the next generation of the M5 is getting a conventional IC engine bundled with an electric motor built into the automatic transmission. The powertrain supports on-demand AWD and can be used in all-electric, hybrid and gas-only modes.