Geneva Launch March 2004 of the "Concept M5"

I took a flight and arrived at lunchtime in Geneva and luckily the show was neighbour with the airport. But of course we had to arrive in "M-style" and I was picked up by member Marc (mfettara) in his M5 of 1999. Marc did managed a high-speed cruise to Monaco and back the day beforeand Geneva with flying colours the day before so it was well "smoked out" for the day. That little trip included being dusted by a Ferrari Enzo in Monaco.

We went straight to the BMW stand naturally and admired -for the most part the - Chris Bangle directed- styling of the exteriour of the M5.

At last at the BMW stand, one of the best stands hardly surprising. Very crowded on the weekend and particlatly crowded around the "Concept M5". I'm sorry for the not perfect image quality, but batteries ran out of the good camera.

As predicted BMW M, had put 100% dark windows on the car just as they did when they released the E46 "M3 Showcar" in 2000, but additionaly BMW also put some kind of red light making it difficult to take good pictures.

You were able to test drive the "Concept M5" in the upcoming computer game for Playstation 2, "Gran Turismo 4". In that game it had a redline at 8500 rpm, 7-speed SMG-only gearbox and a 5-litre V10 of course. The upper-right picture described all the previous generations M5. Let me do a very rough translation:

The M Big Bang: the BMW M1

The BMW M1 is the M Masterpiece. It gave its strong heart to its successor. You will find it's engine in the first generation of the M5.

The Wolf in Sheepsclothing: the first M5

With the M5 of 1984 was the first four-door sedan with true racecar characteristics. With 286 HP it was superiour to everyday sportscars.

A Sporty model: the second BMW M5

1988 is the second generation M5 presented with a new power: 340 HP and 24-valvetechnic is the further developed engine one of the strongest sixcylinder-engines BMW have produced.

As an adequate correspondance to its number of cylinders the second M5 was equipped a newly developed six-speed gearbox. Likewise new: adaptive M Suspension.

Powerplayer in a tailored suit: the third BMW M5

With the third BMW M5 was the first time a BMW M car was equipped with a eightcylinder-engine. One more novelty: The power begins with a 4. But also an aesthethik regard does the M5 presents itself in its best form.

The expectation rises for the fourth M5

2004 is BMW displaying at the Geneva Salon the conceptstudie "BMW Concept M5", the joy before the fourth generation rises, soon the inherit will begin...