BMW M5 Saloon

Quite how BMW will follow this super saloon - the fastest road-going BMW ever - is hard to imagine. Under the bonnet is the kind of power that's normally reserved for Ferrari and Lamborghini owners. It's a 5.0-litre V10 with 507bhp (more than 100bhp per litre) which has been tuned using Formula One style techniques. Power delivery is smooth and accessible, the interior is refined and comfortable and the ride is supple enough to soak up most bumps. Top Gun fans and gadget nuts will appreciate the fighter jet-style head-up display that projects the car's speed (and other info) onto the windscreen - just one highlight of the on-board electronica. There is an argument that says for the same money you could have bought a Porsche 911 and not have to worry about lugging around a big saloon body. But if you choose to go that way, one day you'll see an M-badged 5-Series' snout in your rear view mirror and you'll be in its way.

V10 SMG

The equipment tally is extensive, with a host of driver selectable functions to fine tune the driving experience. This could mean spending five minutes fiddling with the different functions to get it set up just how you like, but on the steering wheel is a button labelled M, hit this button and it activates your predefined set-up. Giving you the combination of power settings, throttle response, damper setting, gearchange speed, steering ratio, head-up display information, active seat settings and stability control intervention. Set-up it to deliver the most extreme and uncompromising of each setting and the transformation is like a massive injection of adrenaline. It also has a 10-speaker stereo, CD multichanger, satellite navigation, on-board computer, cruise control, electric adjustment of seats, steering wheel, sunroof, windows and wing mirrors. Automatic climate control, headlights and wipers, a tyre puncture warning system and parking sensors. There's a lot more besides, although there is still scope to spend more on options, and for the full M experience you should spec the active seats.

5.0 V10 SMG