BMW unveils 2026 M5 Base

BMW did not unveil a newly specified “2026 M5 Base” on May 14, 2026, based on publicly available BMW materials reviewed Thursday. BMW’s official press release for the current-generation M5 sedan was published on June 25, 2024 for the U.S. market as a 2025 model, and it listed the same headline figures cited in dealer posts now circulating online: 717 horsepower, 738 lb-ft of torque and a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds. Dealer and listing sites now show 2026 BMW M5 sedans in inventory or on model pages, but the core powertrain and performance claims match BMW’s earlier launch specifications rather than a newly announced lower-output or differently configured car. BMW’s U.S. technical-highlights page for the M5 sedan remained live this week, and third-party retail sites including Edmunds, Capital One Auto Navigator and CarGurus also list 2026 M5 entries. (press.bmwgroup.com) The available evidence points to a model-year rollover in dealer systems, not a fresh BMW press announcement with new performance figures. BMW’s U.S. press release reviewed by Reuters-style standards did not support the claim that pricing or trim details were newly withheld “today,” because the company had already disclosed U.S. launch pricing in 2024. (bmwusa.com) ### Did BMW announce a new 2026 M5 on Thursday? BMW’s official U.S. press release dated June 25, 2024 introduced “The All-New 2025 BMW M5,” not a newly unveiled 2026 base model. That release described the seventh-generation sedan as the most powerful M5 yet, with a plug-in hybrid system pairing a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with an electric motor. (press.bmwgroup.com) BMW Group’s global press materials, also dated June 26, 2024 in Europe, carried the same launch framing and technical package. The company said the M5 entered its seventh generation with electrified drive for the first time. ### Where do the 717-hp and 3.4-second figures come from? BMW’s U.S. release said the M Hybrid drive system produces 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, and that the sedan reaches 60 mph from rest in 3.4 seconds. (press.bmwgroup.com) Those are the same figures repeated in dealer listings and enthusiast coverage now being shared online. (press.bmwgroup.com) BMW’s U.S. model page still reflects the M5 sedan as a hybrid performance model, and Edmunds’ 2026 specifications page lists 717 hp for the 2026 M5 base plug-in hybrid sedan. That supports the conclusion that retailers are carrying forward the established specification set into the 2026 model year. ### Was pricing really undisclosed? (press.bmwgroup.com) BMW’s June 2024 U.S. launch release gave the 2025 M5 sedan a base MSRP of $119,500 plus $1,175 destination and handling. That means BMW had already publicly disclosed pricing for the initial U.S. sedan launch. Retail listings for 2026 M5 sedans now show varying asking prices, though those reflect dealer inventory and options rather than a newly issued BMW national MSRP sheet reviewed Thursday. (bmwusa.com) Edmunds, for example, showed base 2026 M5 sedan listings, while CarGurus displayed used and nearly new examples with dealer-set prices. ### What is actually new in the current M5 generation? (press.bmwgroup.com) BMW said in 2024 that the new M5 adopted a model-specific M Hybrid system, an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission and M xDrive all-wheel drive. The company also detailed chassis changes including adaptive suspension, rear-wheel steering and integrated braking, along with widened bodywork and model-specific exterior design. (edmunds.com) BMW Group later said start of production began at Plant Dingolfing in July 2024. That production announcement referred to the same electrified M5 architecture and performance band, though the global figure was expressed as 727 metric horsepower rather than the 717 hp SAE figure used in U.S. materials. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### So what should readers watch next? BMW’s U.S. consumer site is the clearest place to watch for any formal 2026 model-year update, option changes or revised pricing. Dealer inventory pages already show 2026 M5 sedan entries, but a new BMW press release or updated configurator would be the next concrete signal of any official model-year change. (bmwusa.com) (press.bmwgroup.com)