Super sedans have become so powerful nowadays that all-wheel drive is a necessity. However, some, like the BMW M5 Competition, have complex AWD systems that, if the driver so chooses, can sent power just to the rear wheels.
Eager to see whether a vehicle like the new M5 is quickest with power sent to the rear or all four wheels, YouTube channel Tyre Reviews had the opportunity to test out an M5 Competition on a track to compare its performance metrics in rear- and all-wheel drive modes.
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The test starts off with acceleration runs in wet conditions. In rear-wheel drive mode, it is impossible to put all of the M5’s 600-plus horses to the pavement in a smooth and linear manner, meaning that on the best of three runs, the best 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time was a pedestrian 8.6 seconds. With the drivetrain in its AWD Sport setting, it needed just 4.1 seconds to hit the same mark while in the standard AWD mode, it hit 60 mph in 4.0 seconds.
In dry conditions, the results were closer but the AWD mode still came out on top, sending the BMW M5 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds compared to 3.0 seconds of the AWD Sport mode and 3.8 seconds when left in rear-wheel drive mode.
Various lap times were also set in wet and dry conditions. On the tight circuit in wet conditions, the car set a time of 53.1 seconds in rear-wheel drive, 50.8 seconds in AWD S, and 50.7 seconds in AWD. On a dry track, the M5 set a time of 1:11.4 in rear-wheel drive mode, 1:09.7 in AWD S mode, and 1:09.8 in all-wheel drive mode.