HAMANN, by trade a top-class tuning specialist for BMW vehicles, is crowning its tuning suite for this brand with its latest creation. It is daring to touch the top model amongst the Bavarian saloons, namely the M5.

The high-revving 5 litre V10 with 507 bhp and 520 Nm is not allowed to show off the full effects of its power in the series version. But just how fast might the M5 be able to race? HAMANN supplies the answer: 327 km/h, which is achieved solely by means of Vmax override.

For those who are not satisfied with this and who desire even more power, HAMANN offers now a solution. The Laupheim-based tuner provides the M5 with a sports-kit composed of high-performance headers, sports metal catalysts, a engine map optimisation and a Vmax-override. The 10-cylinder engine then produces lordly 603 hp and 574 Nm.

The new BMW M5 is the first volume production car to offer a high revving V10 engine and a seven speed sequential gearbox

The 5.0-litre, aluminium engine produces its maximum power at 7,750rpm but it is redlined at 8,250rpm. Power output is 25 per cent more than its predecessor. Although the new engine shares the same V10 configuration with the BMW F1 engine it is not directly related. The F1 engine is of 3.0-litres, not 5.0-litre. However BMW say the inspiration for the electronics and engine design was drawn from their F1 experience. The engine management system derived from F1 can perform more than 200 million individual calculations per second. Continuing with the FI heritage the lightweight block and cylinder heads are cast at the same BMW foundry as the F1 engine.

The new engine delivers two levels of power output. Each time it is started it is in power 400 mode delivering 400bhp. This is to suit normal; urban traffic conditions when 507bhp is of no use and not required. By operating the MDrive button on the steering wheel the power is increased to 507bhp. Eleven bespoke gearchange programmes, throttle response times and suspension settings are all features included in the MDrive Manager programme. A head-up display with information, including the navigation system, is shown in the lower edge of the windscreen.