: Unlike the newer F90, the F10 remains strictly rear-wheel drive, offering a more traditional (and often more challenging) "super-sedan" feel.

The heart of the F10 is the , a unit that fundamentally changed the M5's character from a high-revving screamer to a torque monster.

The (2011–2016) is often celebrated as the bridge between old-school mechanical M-cars and the modern, high-tech era. It was the first M5 to adopt turbocharging , swapping the wailing V10 of its predecessor for a powerhouse twin-turbo V8. Engine & Performance

: The later Competition Package bumped this to 575 hp and sharpened the suspension for better handling.

: It is a heavy car, weighing in at 1,945 kg (4,287 lbs), which is noticeable during hard cornering.