BMW M5 comes alive with all-wheel drive

The 2012 BMW M5 will come with a handful of firsts for the sedan. It will be the first time the car houses a turbocharged powerplant, the first time a dual-clutch gearbox is used and, most importantly, the first time the M5 gets all-wheel drive.

That's the word from BMW brass in Shanghai, where Albert Biermann, head of BMW M's research and development, confirmed the powertrain, Autocar reports. The company is currently chasing the sales of all-wheel-drive Audis and Mercedes-Benz sedans in the snowy northern United States.

The styling changes are slight for the new M. The concept showed a large intercooler duct in the center, a deeper front bumper and chrome side air vents. A small rear spoiler adorns the trunk.

The new heart of the M5 will pump out more power, with greater efficiency than the previous model's V10. The total grunt will come in at 552 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. Power should come smoother with the Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, as opposed to the last generation's clunky sequential manual unit.

The M5 will roll on a set of 20-inch wheels, with a pair of 265/35ZR20 tires in front and 295-30ZR20s in the rear.

By Jake Lingeman