The 2001 BMW M5 SPORTS SEDAN- After a wait that must have been agonizing to lovers of the racy six-cylinder M3, BMW has finally engineered a high-performance V8 into the M5. And it has been racking up raves like no high-performance sedan in history. With a six-speed gearbox and 394 horsepower, the M5 on the 5 Series platform is a totally civilized sedan with racing car capabilities.

The BMW M Series consists of four different cars, although three of them share the same basic engine.

Let's start with the big, powerful, heart of the car: its engine. At 302 cubic inches, the engine is not huge; but 21st century technology draws a heavy punch from a small package, so think of this 5.0-liter V8 as really big. The speed specs on the fastest production sedan on the planet? Acceleration from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds; quarter mile in 13.3 seconds at 108 mph; top speed electronically limited to 155 mph, which in sixth gear would be a casual 5200 rpm or so. The powerband is eminently comfortable and cruisable, thanks largely to BMW's VANOS system of variable valve timing, which brings the massive torque down into the 3000 and even 2000 rpm range.

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With such acceleration and quick, sure handling, the M5 passes on a two-lane like a motorcycle: It's a fun and personally powerful feeling: twitch out and hammer it, twitch in and back off the gas, done in seconds. On the freeway you can use your foot to move in and out of holes: keep it in fourth gear and squirt, shift to fifth to get legs, and settle in sixth when there's no traffic. You can hit the 6800-rpm rev limiter in a heartbeat in the lower gears, and it's easy to do so inadvertently because the engine never screams or sounds stressed in any way. You drive by the tach a lot because of this, but you soon get the rhythm of upshifting at 6200 rpm when you're working it.

The brakes are magic, flawless, breaking a barrier for power, consistency and easy control during hard usage. The brakes are so good that the notion of a "panic" stop never occurred to us. The front rotors are 13.6 inches and the rear 12.9, which says most of it. We did have one small problem, having reached unprecedented ground: when braking from high speed, stunningly deep for a second-gear turn, there was so much forward momentum on our body that if the road was bumpy our right foot was forced hard against the brake pedal, making things less smooth than desired. We needed racing seatbelts to pin our shoulders back.

The Interior is inviting as well as functional: Very well done and comfortable inside. Also, the interior is most stylish and ergonomically good overall. That BMW leather... It just has that inviting smell of pure sportiness. The car has an overall luxury feel to it as all adjusments and controls are easy to use and in good view. The heated leather seats have a two-tone color and fit to your body contour very well. The cockpit is in good taste from all angles. All Nappa leather upholstery with leather headliner. The dash has clean lines, and visibility out the front is good.

Some Comments on this Performance BMW: It may be a clichŽ to say a car like this raises the bar, but it's certainly true in this case. The BMW M5 redefines fast and smooth. Its suspension is perfectly comfortable while offering unmatchable grip, the steering is perfectly precise, the brakes are perfectly strong and steady. The M5's competitors are the Mercedes AMG E55 and Jaguar XJR, which, by objective measures, are blown out of the water by the M5. If you rate what you are paying for in value, the choice is all M5. JH/AutoNetDirect.com

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