BMWs have always had a front-engine rear-wheel drive setup, which is the preferred drivetrain layout for most sports cars. But in 2017, BMW made the F90 M5 all-wheel drive only, which must have upset many fans. This setup was a rear-wheel-biased one, which meant 80 percent of the car’s power could be sent to the rear wheels, but that wasn’t enough. BMW also had a 2WD drive mode that sends all the power to the rear wheels only.
Today, BMW has incorporated this system into most of its all-wheel drive M cars. This still gives them the dynamic steering of a rear-wheel drive car but the traction advantage of an all-wheel drive vehicle. The new G90 BMW M5 will use the same setup, and this will turn it into a monster.
A 717 Horsepower Drift Machine
The latest M5 is the most powerful one yet, with a total of 717 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque from its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid engine. But the penalty for this hybrid-assisted power is weight, since the M5 weighs 5,390 pounds, this is over 1,000 pounds heavier than the previous vehicle. Having this much power and weight makes the all-wheel drive setup necessary to put down that power and maintain traction during dynamic driving. But BMW also allows you to switch to rear-wheel drive mode if you wish.
Like previous cars, a 2WD mode is available in the car’s infotainment. Once it’s selected, all 717 horsepower is sent to the rear wheels, but the dynamic stability control will be turned off. You now have a drift monster in your hands that’s capable of disintegrating your rear tires in less than 60 seconds. But if you’re skilled enough to control this car, then you can pull off some amazing maneuvers.
BMW Knows Its Customers
Despite the backlash concerning the weight of the new M5, we know BMW will tune it to be more dynamic to compensate for the added weight. However, 717 horsepower in a family car is just so much power that you’ll never use most of the time. Switching to rear-wheel drive only with fewer driving aids and an inexperienced driver is a recipe for serious disaster, but, a perfect drift machine in the right hands.
Some models do not offer this feature, especially in SUVs. However, enthusiasts have found a way around BMW’s xDrive with aftermarket software that unlocks this feature, which is also available for SUVs.
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