2013 BMW M5 Driver Assist & Executive Packages $30,990

Armed with a more muscular and efficient V8 engine and a smoother, dual-clutch transmission, the 2013 BMW M5 raises the bar set by its formidable predecessors, offering bracing handling, prodigious power and improved fuel economy. Overcoming a challenge can sometimes push you to higher levels of achievement, and such is the case with the 2013 BMW M5. One of BMW's goals has been to make this model more fuel-efficient for our greener times. Mission accomplished, and in the process, BMW has somehow managed to enhance the M5's athletic personality. At the heart of the M5's successful evolution is its new engine. Gone is the previous generation's normally aspirated and high-revving 5.0-liter V10; in its place is an updated version of the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 used in other M products such as the X5 M. Compared to the previous V10, output has increased from 500 to 560 horsepower and torque has leapfrogged from 383 to 501 pound-feet. The end result is a car that launches like a cannon shell out of the hole, yet overall fuel economy is 30 percent better. The 2013 BMW M5 is a high-performance variant of the midsize 5 Series luxury sedan. Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, performance tires, adaptive suspension dampers, adaptive xenon headlamps, an automatic start/stop function, front and rear parking sensors, auto-dimming mirrors, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, leather upholstery, 16-way power sport front seats, heated front seats with memory settings, and split-folding rear seats. Standard electronics features include the iDrive electronics interface, a navigation system, voice commands, a rearview camera, Bluetooth and a 12-speaker surround-sound system with a six-CD changer, HD radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB interface. The optional Driver Assistance package adds lane-departure and blind-spot warning systems, along with side- and top-view cameras. An Executive package adds keyless ignition/entry, a power-operated trunk lid, soft-close doors, a heated steering wheel, ventilated and massaging functionality for the front seats, four-zone automatic climate control, heated rear seats, a power rear sunshade, manual rear side window shades, a head-up display, satellite radio and smartphone app integration. Stand-alone options include 20-inch wheels, carbon-ceramic brakes, a rear-seat entertainment system, a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system and a night vision camera system with pedestrian detection.