Tesla’s Model S and BMW’s M5 Drag Race

By Marcus Slater - October 11, 2012

Make no mistake, both of these cars are fast. The M5 is famously so. When it comes to sport sedans it’s basically the standard for speed. That said, the common criticism of the M5 (and a lot of newer BMWs) is that they’ve lost their sporty edge in search of luxury. Case in point: the exhaust note. The cabin in the M5 is so isolated from the outside world that it’s engine noise needs to be pumped through the speakers. Otherwise, it would be quiet as a… Well, Tesla.

Which in turn raises another question. How does the old and current king of super sedans far against the electric future? Tesla’s Model S is at the vanguard of the electric car front. On paper, the Tesla loses. BMW’s M5 finished the 0-60 sprint in 4.2 seconds while the Tesla does it in 4.4 seconds. The Model S’s 416 hp also pales in comparison to the 560 hp of the M5.

Numbers, of course, are only one side of the equation. The only way to really know which is superior is to drive them. Hard. Automobile magazine had the same idea. Can the Tesla put a chink in the M5’s armor? Only one way to find out.

Tags: BMW, drag race, M5, Model S, Tesla

Tesla’s Model S and BMW’s M5 Drag Race

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