BMW’s Pure Metal Silver M5 is bound to become a classic

By Ronan Glon July 22, 2016

BMW 740e iPerformance — Ronan Glon/Digital Trends

A new BMW 5 Series is right around the corner, which means the current-generation M5 is living out the last few months of its life. BMW is making sure the model goes out with a bang with an exclusive limited-edition model dubbed Pure Metal Silver that’s bound to become a future classic.

For speed junkies, the most noteworthy upgrades are found by popping the 5’s long hood. The Pure Metal Silver edition is powered by an evolution of the standard M5’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine that has been massaged to generate 600 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and 516 pound-feet of torque from 1,500 all the way up to 6,000 rpm. All that power is channeled to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission controlled by shift paddles.

Recommended Videos

The Pure Metal Silver edition’s eight-cylinder makes 40 horses and 16 pound-feet of twist more than the M5’s standard engine. As a result, the limited-edition model hits 60 mph from a stop in 3.9 seconds — half a second faster than before — and goes on to a top speed that has been raised to 190 mph.

bmw m5 pure metal silver news specs performance pics limited edition 1

bmw m5 pure metal silver news specs performance pics limited edition 3

bmw m5 pure metal silver news specs performance pics limited edition 2

The extra power is complemented by a specific Pure Metal Silver paint job painstakingly applied by BMW’s Individual division. Other extras include 20-inch light alloy wheels, a M performance exhaust, and black accents on the front fascia. Inside, the commemorative sedan gets leather upholstery with contrast stitching, aluminum trim, and a plaque that tells the occupants they’re not riding in a run-of-the-mill M5. The extensive list of standard features includes a heads-up display, navigation, and adaptive LED headlights.

Read more: You’ll have to move to China if you want to buy BMW’s latest

BMW designed the M5 Pure Metal Silver edition specifically for the United States, and just 50 examples will be built so it’s certain to sell out fast. It will go on sale nationwide next month with a base price of $130,900, a sum that represents a princely $36,700 premium over the standard M5.

Topics

Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Cars

Scout Traveler and Scout Terra forge a new path for EVs

Scout Traveler and Scout Terra.

Electric vehicles are inseparable from newness, whether it’s new tech, new designs, or new companies like Rivian, Lucid, and Tesla. But the Volkswagen Group’s new EV-only brand also relies heavily on the past.

Unveiled Thursday, the Scout Traveler electric SUV and Scout Terra electric pickup truck are modern interpretations of the classic International Harvester Scout. Manufactured from 1961 to 1980, the original Scout helped popularize the idea of the rugged, off-road-capable utility vehicle, setting the stage for modern SUVs.

Cars

Robotaxi aside, a $25,000 EV would be pointless, Tesla CEO says

Blue Tesla Model 3 Highland on the road

Enthusiasts expecting to one day put their hands on the steering wheel of a $25,000 Tesla EV may feel like they’ve been taken for a ride.
CEO Elon Musk has just put a serious damper on those expectations, saying that outside of the driverless Robotaxi recently unveiled by Tesla, a regular $25,000 model would be “pointless” and “silly.”
During a conference call with investors, Musk was asked to clarify whether such a model was in the works.
"Basically, having a regular $25K model is pointless,” Musk said. “It would be silly. It would be completely at odds with what we believe." Tesla, Musk continued, has “been very clear that the future is autonomous.”
On October 10, Tesla unveiled its much-awaited robotaxi, called the Cybercab, an autonomous-driving EV with no steering wheel or pedals. The company also unveiled the Robovan, a much larger autonomous vehicle expected to carry people or goods.
The automaker said the Cybercab is expected to be produced in 2026 and cost $30,000. Musk, meanwhile, said that it would be a $25,000 car without specifying if that price tag included federal tax credits.
Tesla’s ambiguity about an affordable entry-level model has been going on for years. In 2020, Musk signaled that a $25,000 Tesla would arrive within three years. It was later reported that Tesla had ditched the idea, instead favoring the development of a robotaxi.
Language within Tesla’s latest financial report still hints that new affordable Tesla models are on the way. But Musk’s latest comments are putting a floor on just how affordable these would be. So far, Tesla’s Model 3 Rear-Wheel-Drive remains the company’s cheapest model, with a base price of $38,990.
Some rival EV makers, meanwhile, are entering the affordable space more aggressively in the U.S.
General Motors has already put out its Chevy Equinox EV at a price of $27,500, including federal tax credits. Volkswagen America says it plans to release an under-$35,000 EV in the U.S. by 2027.

Cars

Stellantis’ 2027 Dodge Charger Daytona might feature solid-state battery tech

Front three quarter view of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona sedan.

The battle to use cheaper, more efficient, and safer EV batteries is heating up among automakers. At the heart of this battle, the development of solid-state battery technology, an alternative to highly flammable and costly lithium batteries, is garnering more and more attention.For proof, Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automaker, is betting on the technology for its next generation of electric vehicles. The Netherlands-based company announced that it will launch a demonstration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona EVs that will feature solid-state battery tech made by U.S. startup Factorial.The demo fleet, expected to launch by 2026, will provide a real-world assessment of Factorial’s technology. Factorial has been partnering with Stellantis since 2021 and is also partnering with the likes of Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai.Besides Dodge, the technology would eventually be deployed on the Stellantis STLA Large multi-energy platform, which includes brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.Stellantis said that the integration of solid-state battery technology will yield “improved performance, longer driving ranges, and faster charging times in the coming years.”Factorial, meanwhile, says its technology provides higher energy density, reduced weight, improved performance, and the potential for further reduction in total vehicle cost over time. Stellantis, Daimler, and Hyundai aren’t the only ones to bet on solid-state battery tech. Toyota, the largest automaker in the world, has heavily invested in the technology. It also created a coalition with Nissan and Panasonic to boost its production in Japan. So far, making solid-state batteries has remained an expensive endeavor. But steps such as the Stellantis demo fleet and production at scale by the likes of Factorial are expected to improve manufacturing processes and costs over time.Other automakers, meanwhile, are working on ways to improve lithium batteries. Volkswagen, for one, is developing its own unified battery cell in several European plants as well as one plant in Ontario, Canada.