BMW's M5 Hybrid Caught Lying About Its Power
BMW claims the new G90 M5 makes 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque.
They're full of it.
Independent dyno testing reveals BMW's latest super sedan is hiding more than 100 horses under its hood. Multiple shops have strapped the hybrid brute to the rollers, and the numbers don't lie.
IND Distribution's dyno run showed 696 horsepower and 730 lb-ft at the wheels. Not the crank—the wheels.
When you account for the typical 15% drivetrain loss in an AWD system, that translates to roughly 820 horsepower at the crank.
Kies Motorsports confirmed similar findings with their Alpine White M5 test mule, recording 677-679 hp at the wheels.
The German Understatement Game
BMW's conservative power ratings aren't new. They've been sandbagging numbers since the E46 M3 days.
What's impressive is the audacity. The M5's wheel horsepower nearly matches BMW's claimed crank figures. Factor in drivetrain losses, and the gap becomes laughable.
The results expose BMW's hybrid strategy in raw numbers:
- Previous F90 M5: 523 hp at the wheels
- New G90 M5: 675-696 hp at the wheels
- Weight penalty: Over 2.4 tonnes (up significantly from F90)
Electrification That Actually Delivers
The M5's hybrid system isn't just green theater.
It masks the car's substantial weight gain with brutal acceleration. The instant electric torque fills gaps in power delivery while the twin-turbo V8 spools.
IND's testing showed the car making peak power on regular 87 octane fuel. They recorded 698.93 hp before even topping off with premium.
Numbers Don't Lie, Marketing Does
Evolve Automotive's dyno tests confirmed what we're seeing across the board: approximately 675 hp at the wheels.
The consistent results across multiple independent shops tell the real story. BMW's marketing department deliberately lowballed the M5's capabilities.
When manufacturers underrate power figures, enthusiasts win. Your warranty covers more performance than advertised.
The new M5 doesn't just continue BMW's tradition of conservative ratings—it exaggerates it. The hybrid system delivers substantially more power than BMW admits.
That's 820 horses of German engineering with a side of corporate modesty.
