1. 122 ESQUIRE JANUARY 2016
STYLE — MACHINES
Above
The BMW M’s in
action at the Sepang
International Circuit.
Back in September, we tore it up with BMW
Group Malaysia when they held the BMW M Track
Experience together with BMW M GmbH at the
Sepang International Circuit. The BMW M Track
Experience is a motorsport experiential programme
by the BMW Group where participants experience
the power, the dynamism and the thrill of the lat-
est premium vehicles from the BMW M division.
To put it simply, we got to max out and test some of
BMW’s most powerful machines, such as the BMW
M135i, M3, M5, M6 Gran Coupé, as well as the latest
X5 M and X6 M. Out of them all, it was the X6 M
and M5 that stole our hearts.
The first thing that you have to know is that driv-
ing on a track and driving on a normal road is com-
pletely different. On your everyday commute, you
face the challenge of tackling shoddy roads, bumps,
traffic lights, and of course, other cars. On the track,
it’s basically however fast you want to go, provided
that you don’t crash into a wall.
With their push towards being more environ-
mentally conscious, BMW has moved from the V10
to a 4.4l V8 engine for the M5. Yet, despite the larg-
er and heavier machine, the fuel economy is much
better. The car goes from zero to 100kmh in 4.2 sec-
onds, and with the limiter removed, the M5 can hit a
top speed of 300kmh (250kmh with limiter). While
M people
A rush of adrenaline at the Sepang International Circuit with BMW Group Malaysia and the most
powerful letter in the world: M.
Words by Sim Wie Boon
loyalists are unhappy about the decision to turbo-
charge the engine, we feel that the key advantage of
this car is its multi-mode suspension, steering and
powertrain control systems. With Sport+ mode, tur-
bo lag isn’t the slightest problem. The car’s damping
isn’t that bad, and despite its two-tonne mass, the
M5 feels more restrained and better balanced than
its predecessor. It transmits the engine’s power to
the road effectively to give a more technically pleas-
ing drive, but doesn’t have an overbearing feeling.
A surprise to us was the X6 M. In all honesty, it
felt light and some might even say that it handles
better than the M5, despite being a sports SUV.
The opinions are divided, but what the heck. Us-
ing a similar 4.4l V8 engine, the car delivers zero to
100kmh in 4.2 seconds as well, with peak 567 horses
and a top speed of 250kmh. Taking a corner at high
speed might be daunting in a SUV, but it felt surpris-
ingly natural and responsive. Explosively quick, sur-
prisingly well handled and well grounded, the X6 M
is a car you’ll either love or hate.
Overall, the M Track Experience was a real
treat for BMW enthusiasts as the chance to really
push the M’s to their peak performance comes
rarely. Spending half a day revving various V8s
and V10 cars on the track was a really great way to
spend a Saturday.