2020 BMW M5 Edition 35 Years Debuts As A Sinister 617-HP Sedan

The BMW M5 is an exceptional performer in the sports sedan market. Actually, it's an exceptional performer in any market, with brutal acceleration that matches or beats all but the most hyper of hypercars. It's hard to believe the madness started 35 years ago with the first BMW M5, but Munich has no intention of letting the milestone pass without an honorable mention. In this case, that mention takes the form of an appearance package for the midsize sedan called the M5 Edition 35 Years.

To make it happen, the automaker mobilized its BMW Individual group for some special touches that suggest this Bimmer likes to tread on the dark side. All models will wear a special exterior shade called BMW Individual Frozen Dark Grey II, a matte color which is complemented with exclusive 20-inch Y-spoke M wheels finished in Graphite Grey. Brake calipers are similarly dark with a coat of gloss black, and in a surprising move, the car's rear badging is removed for what BMW calls "an elegant and understated" look.

In fact, the only place you'll find anniversary branding is inside. There's more darkness to be found with BMW Individual Merino black leather M Sport seats, though beige contrast stitching adds an interesting flavor. It's the center console that demands attention here, as it gets gold trim with M5 Edition 35 Years etched in white. Gold trim is also found on the dash and door panels, and additional gold trim with more branding is found on the door sill plates.

BMW will only build 350 special edition variants, all of which use the M5 Competition as the starting point. That means a 617-horsepower (460-kilowatt) twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 is under the hood, sending power to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic. They will be up-spec models as well, with the otherwise optional Executive Package and M Driver's Package included as standard kit.

Of those 350 special models, just 35 will make it to U.S. shores with production slated for September and October. Be prepared to pay $128,995 to put one in your garage.