BMW M5 2020

The 2020 BMW M5 Base belongs to the sixth-generation F90 range, produced from 2017 to 2023. It continues the M5 tradition as a high-performance derivative of the 5 Series, combining the familiar executive-sedan format with the technical and visual cues of BMW M models. Within the information provided, the Base version sits below the Competition variant, while still carrying the core M5 identity through M badging, model-specific bodywork, special wheels, and larger ventilated and perforated brakes. For 2020, it stands as the more standard expression of the F90 M5 described in the dossier.

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History

The BMW M5 began in 1984 as a high-performance version of the 5 Series. The first generation, the E28, used a 3.5-liter inline six derived from the BMW M1 engine and delivered 286 horsepower, making it the fastest car in its class at the time. Later generations kept refining the formula without abandoning the idea of a discreet but extremely fast sedan. The E34, launched in 1988, added a Touring version that broadened practicality. The E39, built from 1998 to 2003, brought a 4.9-liter V8 with 400 horsepower. The E60, produced from 2005 to 2010, moved to a 5.0-liter V10 rated at 507 horsepower. The F10, produced from 2011 to 2017, then switched to a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with up to 575 horsepower. The F90 generation, which includes the 2020 BMW M5 Base, added M xDrive all-wheel drive and also introduced a Competition version with more power.

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Production

The 2020 BMW M5 Base belongs to the F90 generation, which was produced from 2017 to 2023. The dossier does not give any production-specific detail for 2020 or any version-specific figures for the Base model. It can still be placed in the period when the M5 adopted M xDrive all-wheel drive and when the range also included a more powerful Competition variant.

Evolution

By 2020, the M5 Base sits in a mature phase of the F90 generation. The dossier highlights M xDrive all-wheel drive as a major development for this generation, improving traction and making performance more usable day to day. Compared with earlier M5s, the F90 continues the direction established by the F10, which already used a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, while adding a more advanced driveline layout. The Base version is mainly defined by its position within the F90 lineup: it represents the entry point to the M5 range of this period, while the Competition version is the higher-performance step mentioned in the dossier. The familiar M identity remains, with M badges, specific bodywork, dedicated wheels, lowered ride height, and enlarged brakes.

1984M5 Base

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1998M5 Base

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2011M5 Base

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2017M5 Base

Same variantPhotos: 11

2024M5 Base

Same variantPhotos: 1

Variants

Within the dossier, the 2020 BMW M5 belongs to the F90 generation, and the Base version serves as the standard interpretation of that family. The clearest variant identified alongside it is the Competition, listed for the F90 generation at 617 horsepower. No Base-specific technical figures are provided for 2020, but the version can be placed as the less extreme alternative to the range’s top step. The visual cues remain those of a classic M5: M logos at the front, rear, and on the fenders, side skirts, specific bumpers, and sport exhaust outlets. Inside, sport seats, an M steering wheel, and model-specific trim complete the package.