In case you haven’t noticed, our favourite Bavarian brand has a sizeable presence in the sport that is Grand Prix Motorcycle racing – better known as MotoGP – as its official vehicle partner. In fact, the marque has a history of supplying its latest and greatest to the sport for its Official Safety Car.
Up until last weekend’s San Marino round held at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Northern Italy, the Bavarian marque’s rather divisive BMW XM Label Red super-PHEV SUV helmed the role as this season’s official safety car. Joining it now though is the latest G90-generation BMW M5.
Like the XM, the new and now electrified M-badged super-saloon based on the 5 Series has divided opinions. Most of which stems from its hefty mass – an arguably unavoidable price of added electrification. However, the new super-saloon’s ‘recruitment’ here is arguably welcoming.
Like its predecessors, this latest MotoGP Safety Car by BMW dons a special livery which, according to BMW M, is inspired by its M Hybrid Le Mans endurance racer. Much of the exterior is draped in matte black, while some areas get finished in M’s signature white, blue, red and purple.
What’s evident too is its arguably meaner stance thanks to its widened wheel arches, not forgetting the slew of optional and tasty new M Performance Parts that are mostly made from carbon fibre. Completing this M5 MotoGP Safety Car’s alterations is the added roof lightbar.
Of course, there’s a lot of performance to back up this new Safety Car’s sporty stance. As a refresher, the G90-gen M5 debuted globally back in June this year powered by BMW M’s signature S58 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 mill outputting 577 HP and 750 NM.
Said mill is augmented by a super plug-in hybrid (super-PHEV) setup comprised of a single e-motor and battery system that further adds 194 HP and 281 NM into the mix. Combined, there's a whopping 771 HP and 1,000 NM, thus standing as the most potent M5 ever.
Drive goes to all four wheels via a slick 8-speed M Steptronic box and xDrive all-wheel-drive (AWD) with adjustable power bias. Altogether, this powertrain propels the G90 M5’s claimed 2,445 KG heft to despatch 0-100 KM/H in just 3.4 seconds – enough for MotoGP Safety Car work.
Moving forward, it looks like MotoGP series organisers – and rights-holders – Dorna Sport SL will see both the new G90-gen M5 and the XM mentioned taking turns sitting up front on MotoGP’s starting grid. And apart from the Safety Car, BMW also set aside another M5 as an award prize.
Like in past seasons, MotoGP’s annual BMW M Award sees the season’s best – read: fastest – qualifier take home a brand-new BMW M car as a grand prize. This year, a one-off G90 M5 is up for grabs, and it’s only the second electrified model offered here after last year’s XM Label Red.
