Ramon Ang presents the BMW M5

A couple of years back, I wrote about how men congregate on Sunday mornings like they are on a market run. Actually, they are.

They take their mobile man-cave out of the metro’s traffic-plagued roads, and congregate for breakfast or coffee to show off and measure their … er, supercars against each other.

But last Sunday morning’s fun run was special; none other than Ramon Ang, THE car enthusiast and new leading man of BMW Philippines, hosted a breakfast for the numerous supercar owners to show off the new BMW M5.

The M5 has a vibrant heritage, and holds an extraordinary place in any car enthusiast’s heart for being a sedan that can keep up its two-door, track-bred colleagues.

The new M5 comes with a 4.4-liter twin power turbo V8 that produces 600 ps and 750 Nm of torque, thanks to the upgraded turbo chargers and fuel injectors.

Power is then transferred to an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic. The M5 goes from zero to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, and can reach an unrestricted top speed of 305 km/h, according to BMW.

For looks, it is sleeker than the previous model, and has a sportier bumper. It comes with a P14-million plus price tag and three driving modes: comfort, sport, and sports plus.

After the meet up, I asked some of those who attended what their impressions of the new BMW M5 are. Here is what they have to say:

Ramon Ang

“I, personally, prefer well-designed cars that do not fall short on functionality. The all-new BMW M5 is the perfect blend of track readiness and everyday usability. I would say that it can rival the most regarded performance vehicles on and off the track.”

Carlos Gono
Motul and Autoplus
head honcho

“The M5 looks very subtle as a regular 5 series, a well-disguised sleeper but with 600 bhp. It sure is going to be an impressive drive. Mind you, its all-wheel drive with traction will sprint to 100 kph in less than 3 seconds considering the full size structure. And the best thing is that you can configure it up as a rear wheel drive with no traction control. That’s where the excitement is.”

JP Tuason
Champion racer and
first Filipino BMW M trainer

“The new M5 is a refined-looking beast that packs a powerful engine, and will give other supercars a run for their money. The interior gives the driver a pampered feel without compromising on performance. The new M5 is a proper M vehicle. Can’t wait to test it both on the track and open road.”

Raffy David
Racing team principal
and car enthusiast

“It takes off from the already awesome F10 M5, which was the only supercar-chasing sedan when it came out in 2011. Supercars of the last two years are much faster, and it seems that the new M5 was meant to keep up with that level of speed. Looking forward to trying one out.”

Jun Lao
Managing director of
biodiesel producer Chemrez Inc.

“M5 is a luxury saloon with supercar-shaming performance. The venue yesterday brought in car enthusiasts from different car clubs, most of whom are sports car drivers who bring their pride for Sunday runs. Most have two-door sports cars that are only driveable on traffic-free Sunday mornings. The M5 may be out of place among such vehicles. If for weekday drives in the city, it may be too highly strung for the owner-driver to use. That leaves it best for long drives outside Manila—ideally when the radar cameras are offline

Olivier Matias
Racer and entreprenuer

M5 is a luxury sedan with a 500 hp V8 twin-turbocharged V8. It has a very classy interior with great technology, maybe a car for executives. I think it is better to drive it on the road than on the track. A bit pricey, but I think it’s worth it.

Francis Aguila
Racing team principal and
Brembo Philippines distributor

I like how M5’s new bumpers and broader arches give it a more aggressive stance, without going over the top. I’m not a big fan of the exposed carbon fiber roof though; it works for the M2 and M4, but not so much the M5.

Ton Ramos
Champion racer and
supercar dealer

The new M5 will surely be a top choice executive 4-door supercar with 600 hp, 0-60 km at 2.8 sec. Its improved 4.4L V8 twin turbo engine and lighter body weight will surely be a hit. What I’m excited about the new model is its all-wheel drive feature, and its high tech instrument panels that will surely capture the hearts of “M” lovers. With all the exciting news about it, I hope that this latest version will bring back the M5 line to its former glory.

Chet Pastrana
CEO, Fast Cat

I think the car has incorporated significant improvements on engine and torque. Although it has the same platform as its predecessor, the interior looks sportier, and the dashboard and instrumentation has more electronic options that may appeal more to the younger market. The car had more curves but kept the soul of the M5.

Just like kids failing miserably an EQ test, these gentlemen can’t wait to get their hands on the new BMW M5 steering wheel and see what it can do on the track and roads of Manila.