De Phillippi is well-acquainted with M Power. In 2019, the BMW works driver won the Daytona 24-hour race at the wheel of the BMW M8 GTE. This weekend, he and BMW Team RLL will set their sights on the third win in a row for the BMW M8 GTE in the GTLM class. However, before he gets down to business in the race car, De Phillippi enjoyed a very special treat. He was given the opportunity to test one of the first BMW M5 CSs built for the USA and to get an impression of how it feels to drive the most powerful M car ever, with a whopping 635 hp.

This agility comes thanks to the lightweight concept that was implemented consistently when designing the BMW M5 CS. This has made it possible to save roughly 70 kilograms compared to the BMW M5 Competition (combined fuel consumption: 11.3 – 11.1 l/100 km according to NEDC, 11.3 – 10.9 l/100 km according to WLTP; combined CO₂ emissions: 259 – 254 g/km according to NEDC, 259 – 249 g/km according to WLTP*). The exclusive special edition BMW M5 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds and hits 200 km/h after 10.3 seconds. The top speed is 305 km/h (electronically limited). “In my opinion, every detail of this car is built to the highest motorsport standards,” said De Phillippi.

The approach taken when developing the BMW M5 CS was for the car not only to be perfectly-suited to the racetrack, but also everyday use. De Phillippi’s verdict is that it’s mission accomplished. “This car is the ultimate combination of everyday usability and sports car. The space and comfort allow you to take whatever you want with you. For example, I love the BMW M5 because there is enough space for my bike and luggage, without having to sacrifice sportiness. In the blink of an eye, the car is ready for the racetrack at any time.”

*The fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions figures are determined according to the European Regulation (EC) 715/2007 in the version applicable. The figures refer to a vehicle with basic configuration in Germany. The range shown considers the different sizes of the selected wheels/tyres and the selected items of optional equipment, and may vary during configuration.

The values are based on the new WLTP test cycle and are translated back into NEDC-equivalent values in order to ensure comparability between the vehicles. With respect to these vehicles, for vehicle-related taxes or other duties based (at least inter alia) on CO₂ emissions, the CO₂ values may differ from the values stated here (depending on national legislation).

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and specific CO₂ emission values of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: 'Leitfaden über den Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO₂ Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen' (Guide to the fuel economy, CO₂ emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained free of charge from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.