BMW M5 Competition Confirmed For 2018, Latest Safety Car Hints At Production Model


Following a preview last year, BMW has released new details about the M5 MotoGP safety car.

Set to enter service this weekend at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, the safety car features a unique livery, a roll cage and seats from the M4 GTS. The model has also been equipped with an assortment of carbon fiber M Performance Parts including the grille, mirror caps, rear diffuser and rear spoiler. Designers also installed a titanium sports exhaust system with carbon fiber tips.

The styling changes don’t stop there as the model has a prototype front splitter which has been designed specifically for the safety car. Other notable changes include an LED light bar and blue emergency lights in the grille.

Like the standard model, the safety car has a 4.4-liter M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine which develops 600 PS (441 kW) and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system that enables the sedan to rocket from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds.

While we’ve already seen the safety car before, BMW M GmbH President Frank van Meel said “MotoGP … offers us the perfect test environment for more innovations. For example, we are using the BMW M5 MotoGP Safety Car as a development platform for the new BMW M5 Competition, which we will launch in 2018.”

BMW declined to go into specifics but said “The data and information gathered with the safety car during its outings on the racetracks of the world are incorporated in the development of the new BMW M5 Competition.”

The M5 safety car will be one of several different models providing support at MotoGP races this year. It will be joined by safety car versions of the M3, M4 Coupe and M6 Gran Coupe. The company will also provide an X5 M medical car and two S 1000 RR motorcycles.

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