New BMW M5 sets blistering ‘Ring time

This is a totally unconfirmed, unsubstantiated and frankly, gratuitous piece of news reporting. But we couldn't resist sharing the news: the new BMW M5 has apparently lapped the Nurburgring in 7m 55s.

If true, this is important because it's ruddy fast. It's also the fastest four-door sedan to have ever lapped the Green Hell, and substantially, is some 18 seconds faster than its E60 predecessor. It's also quicker than a Porsche 996 Turbo, Audi RS4, Gallardo Spyder, Aston Martin DBS, and, well, anything that has clocked a time over 7m 55s.

Gallery: the new, 555bhp V8-powered BMW M5

Now, BMW itself has not confirmed it, the original report just states a ‘BMW test-driver' clocking the record time, and as you know, just because the Internet reckons something is true, doesn't make it so. Also, these times are, in essence, ridiculous because there is no overarching set of guidelines or single test-driver to have benchmarked them all. But, but... you can't help but wonder.

We've driven a pixellated version of this car. It was drifty. And good. Click here for more Nurburgring 24hr action, courtesy of some live-blogging.

Does your life depend entirely on these unofficial Nurburgring lap times, or is a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 BMW with 555bhp and rear-wheel-drive reason enough to shout with jubilation?

Source: fastestlaps.com