For four decades the BMW M5 has dominated the autobahns of its native Germany, not to mention supersaloon group tests in every automotive publication across the globe. It is an icon, the definition of the breed. So when the M division takes the wraps of a new iteration, it's a very big deal.

Unfortunately, there is no escaping the fact that the new G90 M5 is also a very big car. Let’s just get it out of the way - the new M5 weighs 2,435kg DIN. That’s a substantial 570kg heavier than its predecessor, the F90 M5. The M5 has also grown in every direction, with its length now spanning over five metres. 

Still, supersaloons have never been about low mass and small footprints. They’re about brute force and luxury, suppressing the laws of physics rather than using them to their advantage. The G80 M3 has proven that piling on the pounds is no barrier to building a dynamically superior car, and if anyone can make so many kilos dance, it’ll be the M division.