The long-awaited flagship of the Five Series family has finally broken cover. 

ELECTRIFICATION having attached to BMW’s M5 badge is no sign of emasculation - it’s delivering significant grunt, just with a Green edge.

Unveiled internationally today, with New Zealand arrival between October and end of year and with pricing announced next month, the model remains familiar in that it still sports the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre eight cylinder petrol as before.

What it also of course gets is a new hybrid system that pairs this thumper with a powerful electric motor, integrated within the casing of the eight-speed auto, and a sizeable battery.

The eco message is that it can officially travel up to 69 kilometres on electric power, at speeds of up to 140kmh. The CO2 emissions rating is a paltry 37g/km. Recharging the battery from an external source can be done at up to 7.4kW.

So it’s efficient. How energetic is it? short answer: Very. 

The hybrid system is as much for performance and when the electric motor and engine are working together, they can send up to 542kW and 1000Nm of torque to all four wheels - or just the rear wheels when choosing the ‘2WD’ setting and deactivating the traction control. BMW quotes a 0-100kmh time of just 3.5 seconds.

As point of reference, the old M5 had 441kW/750Nm, the all electric i5 M60 has 442kW/795Nm. And the new Mercedes-AMG C63, now four-cylinder hybrid? With that you get 500kW and 1020Nm.

The new M5 is a heavyweight for more than stomp. Adding a battery also makes a difference when it hits the scales. Specifically, it adds 500kg to the car, taking overall kilo count to a rather porky 2.5 tonnes, give or take. Basically, as heavy as the i5.

BMW admits this raised some challenges. So, while the M5 continues with adaptive damping, big brakes (with M Carbon ceramic discs as an option) and an electronically-controlled rear differential, the car for the first time gets Integral Active Steer. 

That’s BMW-speak name for rear-wheel steering, which helps the car feel more agile and light on its feet at lower speeds while enhancing stability once the pace increases. There are mixed-size wheels and special tyres as well, of course, plus a much wider track, especially at the front.

The wider wheel arches aren’t the only clues to it being the sporting one. It also has more bulbous bumpers front and rear, the radiator grille has a different design to that of other 5 Series models and it achieves big air intakes. Special door mirrors and unique alloys come with the package, as do a new ‘M5’ badge at the trailing end of the side glass, a modest boot spoiler and a prominent diffuser housing the expected quad exhaust outlets. There’s also an optional carbon roof.

The interior takes all the usual enhancements. There’s a unique centre console layout, special graphics for the ‘Curved Display’ instruments and touchscreen, leather upholstery and a smattering of ‘M5’ badges and logos. There are new M1/M2 buttons that are illuminated, plus the first-ever flat-bottomed steering wheel in an M5.

The factory has revealed that the M5 badge will also apply to a Touring wagon edition, a body style about to land with the i5. the M5 Touring is revealed next month. Whether it will come here has not been stated.