GTSLEX

iTrader: (2)

Damn... thats a lot of power.


http://www.egmcartech.com/2008/04/22...h-400-hp-555i/

Sens4Miles

and how fuel efficient is this 4.4 liter going to be?
It's 2008. We don't need to be driving around in 400hp vehicles that get crap gas mileage when the cost of fuel is $4/gallon. Luxury or not, whether you can afford the gas or not, it's unnecessary and environmentally irresponsible for these companies to continue to make bigger and more powerful gas guzzlers without trying to enhance fuel economy. Both BMW & Infiniti are the biggest offenders in the luxury segment, in my opinion.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

wow, 400hp was in m5, and now the "normal" 5 series, that's something

time for lexus to wake up.... 340hp gs460 won't cut it

Sens4Miles, it depends on design, more power doesn't always means worse gas mileage. gs460 342hp and ls460 380hp have pretty much the same gas mileage. gs400 to gs430 (larger engine) and also about the same gas mileage

Sens4Miles

Agreed, but how much more power do 5 series owners need? 500hp? 600hp? 1000? For these automakers to continually raise the bar in power output, they're forcing their competitors to do the same to "keep up with the competition". No matter how technologically advanced these engines might be, MPG is still going to suffer. 300hp is more than enough for any V8. They should be focusing on making these engines smaller, more fuel efficient, and STILL achieve around 300-350HP. Give me a non-hybrid V8 luxury sedan that achieves 300HP & 30MPG any day over one that does 400HP & 20MPG. All of this excessive power is completely unnecessary.

flipspeed

4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8... wow. i wonder how much hp can be made with a chip?

LexFather

I'm with Sens4Miles here, when does it stop? Really, when? Why can't we have a nice 300-350hp car getting 28 mpg? The only one close is the GS 450h.

Then the cars just get heavier anyway. So the next M5 will be 4500 lbs? Is that fun?

Luxury should be about having the BEST fuel economy and the BEST power.

Lexus seems to be the only one trying to give an option and even their first generation of hybrids are a mixed bag.

I guess 300hp Altimas/Accords/Camrys/Malibus are around the corner!

INHOCJP

Wow, wonder what specs the new M5 will have

CK6Speed

iTrader: (1)

You'll never know if the car really is fun unless you drive it. I have never been fortunate enough to drive an M5, but from what I hear they have all been fun even if the weight has been going up.

As for what luxury should be? Well, I agree that a luxury brand should be about giving the customer options. That options could be anything from a 4 cylinder car to a V10 car and anything in between. That is what luxury is all about. Getting what you want regardless of cost. Nobody needs luxury. Luxury is simply that. It is an excess of what we want. If best fuel economy happens to come with the best power, great. If not no bid deal. It is luxury after all where we really don't need any of it. We just want it.

Mike, I'm actually a tad bit surprised to hear that from you. What if you got the power and fuel consumption numbers you wanted in a luxury car but it came from a 4 cylinder motor? Would you be okay with that?

SLegacy99

Guess BMW isn't worried about CAFE standards.

So whats the point of buying an M5 anymore?

Sens4Miles

Indeed, as well as the best reliability, the best dealership experience, and the most options. Lexus beats out or ties every category with the exception of maybe giving their customers enough variety of choice (interior color combinations, transmission options, etc). The fact that MB is still one of the most unreliable vehicles on the road today is mind boggling to me. All of them - Lexus, MB, BMW, Audi, Cadillac, Infiniti, & even Acura should be setting the standard for the rest of the automotive industry in every category and most of them don't.

They probably are, because apparently that's what American consumers want?
I think a new "gentleman's agreement" is in order pretty soon.

RX_330

Finally, torque! When does BMW come out with a 6.6L for the 6-Series?

92 SC400

I kind of like that... haha

Can't wait for those people tuning the 335s their hands on one of these...

I think what differentiates this and an M5 is like asking what differentiates a 335 from a M3? The answer? A lot more than any HP figure can tell you...

rominl

iTrader: (4)

exactly what i was thinking. looking at the 335, i have good feeling

kt22cliff

should be able to put down at least 550-600 at the crank with a simple piggyback

5

whlkev

i really don't like FI'ed BMW