Attributing the lower price tag to cost optimization, BMW’s flagship high-performance sports sedan is actually better equipped this time around too. Arriving solely in Competition trim, the 2021 M5 Competition blends a business sedan’s everyday usability with unbeatable sports car dynamics.

As on the BMW 5 Series range, the M5 gets the updated BMW kidney grille that’s larger and has a one-piece design framing both elements of the grille. The front bumper also hosts larger air intakes and incorporates the oil cooler and radar sensor for the Active Cruise Control system.

The grille aside, it also gets new L-shaped light tubes in the adaptive LED headlights, made more sinister with its Shadowline dark-tinted accent. The rear lamps have also been restyled as well. The M5 Competition also features streamlined M exterior mirrors, a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic roof, and a slew of black accents from the kidney grille surround to the rear spoiler to the M Sport exhaust system.

The M5 Competition comes in eight paint finishes: Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Bluestone, M Brands Hatch Grey, M Donington Grey, M Marina Bay Blue, M Motegi Red, and Snapper Rocks Blue. The optional BMW Individual metallic and frozen paint colors may be chosen upon special order.

Underneath, the legendary S63 V8 engine delivers 625 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque. It gives the M5 Competition the ability to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, and zero to 200 km/h in 10.8 seconds. The 8-speed automatic transmission routes the power through all four wheels via the M xDrive system. The M Sport exhaust system with M Sound Control allows the driver to control the soundtrack.

Among the special features of the new BMW M5 Competition are its bespoke engine mounts with a stiffer spring rate. This results in even more rapid engine response and noticeably increases directness through corners. Moreover, shock absorbers from the BMW M8 Gran Coupe improves its on-the-limit handling while still bringing extra comfort to everyone onboard. The new BMW M5 Competition leaves the factory with bi-color, 20-inch M light-alloy wheels in Y-spoke design and mixed-size tires and M Compound brakes with six-piston fixed calipers at the front and single-piston floating calipers at the back.

Inside, the BMW M5 Competition gets a larger central display with a 12.3-inch size. This makes the operation easier than ever. Two new buttons on the center console, meanwhile, provide more direct access to system settings and the various readouts in the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display.

As standard, the BMW M5 Competition comes with Merino leather upholstered M multifunction seats with integral head restraints. The seats also have an illuminated M5 logo and extended functions which are standard as well. Standard features include a Harman Kardon surround sound system, electric roller sun blinds for the rear window, a 4-zone climate control system, heads-up display and gesture control.

The 2021 BMW M5 Competition is now available for pre-ordering at all BMW dealerships in the Philippines, and is customizable (click here to know more).