As the erstwhile empty horizon suddenly gets taller, we turn off the highway and set the car’s components to Sport mode. Individually. Once again, the sense of driver input is elevated as we adjust suspension stiffness, steering response and gear ratios, even if we miss half a kilometre while we do so. With the M5 off its leash and with no traffic in sight, we floor it.
The needle continues to rise as we hit 230kph, and I bottle it soon after. Extensive tests prove with nary a shadow nor doubt that this is no 5-series sheep in Monte Carlo Blue Metallic clothing. A speed bump appearing without warning, for example, ensures those heavy duty brakes are also given the test.
The first roundabout we enter steadily, pushing on at the second. Then the third. And the fourth. We’re not even into Sport+ yet and the car barely twitches, both front and rears refusing to come off the rails. Only when we provoke the M5 into a reaction at the fifth do the rears begin to slide, though the ease with which they are brought under control suggests this is just a warning shot.
We pull over at the one-hour mark to refuel both the car and ourselves. The ‘EfficientDynamics’ gauge looks a bit out of place on a car producing this much power, though it seems likely this will be our only stop for petrol.
Preparing myself for the run ahead, I have activated Sport mode via the three buttons circumnavigating the gear lever. Give that BMW’s longstanding i-drive system comes as standard on the M5, there are still more than a dozen button on the centre-console, rendering the i-drive principal somewhat redundant. Saying that, not having to pull over and wade through option menus is a bonus.
A myriad of sweeping lefts and rights make up the first kilometre, and once warmed up, we start aiming for the apexes on a road devoid of traffic. Hitting them is ludicrously easy and entry speed accordingly picks up.
Soon the road tightens and sweeping lefts and rights sharpen with little warning. The rock walls are within touching distance but still we press on, the car’s balance eroding any sense of trepidation.
Camber soon turns to outright banking, and I hit the throttle hard to maximise exit speeds. But soon we’re through the first mountain stretch, the road straightening accordingly. My elevated heartbeat suggest it’s so far so good.
Just as well. After a 2km respite, the road inclines and begins to follow the curvature of the mountain range itself. Sport+ territory.
