Laguna Seca race track hosted the U.S. introduction of the new 2012 BMW M5. The super sporty sedan made its first debut back in June at the famous Nurburgring and will make its way to the American market in Spring 2012, rejoining the super sporty sedan segment with some tough competitors: Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, Audi RS6 and Cadillac CTS-V.

The F10 BMW M5 builds atop the elegant and premium design of the new 5 Series sedan. The design language is easier on the eye than the previous E60 generation and the M5 enhances its aggressiveness with the M-specific design cues.

With the new generation M5, the M division delivers what one expects from an M car: aggressiveness, sportiness and elegance. The front spoiler takes the M5 a step further than the 5 Series models with the popular M-package, three large air intakes, blacked out grille and discreet rear spoiler located on the boot lid serves to optimize the car’s aerodynamics.

The new M5 will have a weight distribution of 51% front, 49% rear. The rear exhaust silencers are constructed of titanium and are far smaller than those featured on the series production car. Several kilograms were saved through the application of these silencers, thus the rear end was lightened considerably. As for the sound, the new M5 has an exhaust note uniquely different from that of the S63 found in the X5M and X6M cars.

BMW has moved on with the new F10 M5 from naturally aspirated engines to a TwinPower turbocharged V8. The high-revving 4.4-liter (4395cc) turbocharged uses the BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology, twin-scroll turbochargers, high-precision direct fuel injection, Valvetronic variable valve control and a cross-bank exhaust manifold.

The Valvetronic system has been heavily tuned and modified for the M5 such that turbo lag has been further reduced, and efficiency has been improved. On the test bench at full load the M5 engine shows a 30% improvement in efficiency over the S63 found in the X M cars while making the same power output.

The engine and gearbox have been mounted 20 mm lower in the frame to reduce the car’s center of gravity and improve handling. The engine has also been moved rearward to improve balance.

2012 BMW M5 will output 560 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 501 lb-ft of torque (680 Nm) at 1,500 rpm. The new F10 M5 will run to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.4 seconds. To reach 124 mph (200 km/h), the new M5 needs about 13 seconds. Same as the old E60 M5, the M-Drivers-Package brings the top speed to 190 mph (305km/h). The engine is mated to a 7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission Drivelogic. A manual option is being considered for U.S. customers, but no official confirmation has been released at the moment.

Overall weight is reported to be 4,122/4,286lb (DIN/EU).

Unofficial Nurburgring lap times place the new M5 on the first position within its class.

Brian Watts, General Manager Global Sales and Marketing for BMW M, describes the 2012 M5 as the perfect combination between a track car and a business automobile. “Born on Nurburgring, ready to go to office, and this is why M is the most powerful letter in the world,” said Brian Watts in front of journalists at Laguna Seca.