2008 BMW M5 Road Test

Let's get the expected impressions out of the way so we can tackle the technology smorgasbord that separates this Teutonic road jet from other 5-Series Bimmers and everything else on the road. With apologies to Clint Eastwood, these include much good, some bad and an element of ugly.

The good: this fourth-generation M5 may be the fastest, most muscular, most precise and glued-to-the-road four-door most of us will ever experience. The bad: it appears aimed as much for techno-geeks as for serious drivers. Ugly, as always, is in the eye of the beholder.

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THIS WEEK'S CAR NEWS

2008 Honda Element: What's New (6/14/2007)
Staying the same in an inimitably boxy way.

2008 Honda S2000: What's New (6/14/2007)
The Honda roadster has a racetrack in mind.

2008 Saab 9-3 SportCombi Preview (6/14/2007)
All-wheel drive arrives in Trollhattan.

2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT Coupe/Convertible: What's New (6/13/2007)
Coupe gets convertible companion for new year.

2008 Saab 9-3 Sedan Preview (6/13/2007)
All-wheel drive arrives in Trollhattan.

2008 Jaguar S-Type: What's New (6/12/2007)
A new face to the world, one last time.

2008 Infiniti FX: What's New (6/11/2007)
Bouncing off the satellites for the new year.

2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Shapes Up (6/11/2007)
Final testing in Africa before itsFrankfurt debut.

Jaguar, Land Rover For Sale? (6/11/2007)
Who's interested in Ford's British brands?

Cerberus Showing Interest in Jaguar (6/17/2007)
Jag and Land Rover could be next private-equity holdings.

Flint: Sell Jaguar? No, Not Now! (6/16/2007)
"Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more."

 Peugeot Shows Off New 308 (6/12/2007)
New small hatch will make a Frankfurt debut.

Healey, Austin-Healey Coming Back (6/12/2007)
British brands, Chinese owners come to an agreement.

Li-ion Not Ready for Prius (6/13/2007)
Higher-mileage batteries no longer part of the plan - at least initially.

New GM Diesel Slated for Trucks, H2 (6/15/2007)
New for 2009, truck diesel cuts emissions for '09.

Gas Use Drops in Northwest (6/17/2007)
Falling in Northwest as it rises elsewhere.

I'm Ready for Eurodiesels
Two diesel sport sedans that you can't yet buy at U.S. dealerships prove that good times are head, despite CAFE.

The Week in Reverse
Shelby's siren song, Healey returns, and a bucket of rust.

Lamborghini Gets Its Own Stamp
The Italian post office gives the bull its props.

Is MirraChrome The Next Big Bling?
Chrome-like paint makes its debut in the U.K.

'57 Plymouth Waking from Time Capsule (6/14/2007)
Okla. hits 100 years with a 50-year blast from the past.

More on Gibbs' Aquada Plans (6/13/2007)
Zany aquacar concept could be real aquacar soon.

Ferrari Sets Guinness Record (6/11/2007)
Longest ever parade of Ferraris logged at track.

Ask A Mechanic: June 13, 2007 (6/13/2007)
Shifter jiggling, Duster lessons and vanishing oil.

Car Gadgets Your Dad Doesn't Need (6/15/2007)
You'd be better off staying alert and in tune.

PODCAST: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

What's going on in Detroit on fuel economy? What's the best General Motors publicity campaign on wheels? And why are the French suddenly our favorite people in the world again? Listen up to the latest podcast of TheCarConnection.com's letters to the editor, where this week, we'll talk about the Obama machine's misstep on fuel economy, the rise in gas prices and what America should be doing about them, and whether Chevrolet's Volt or the Blue Devil corvette is the GM halo car. Our readers will tell us why the editor's a "dysfunctional Bushie," why we all need to "stop panicking," and lastly, why we all need to "get off our Viagra and Cialis" and stop driving while drunk-that's courtesy TCC's newest and certainly oddest reader.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I think we are all missing the point with Jag/LR. Yes, they are not currently helping Ford's bottom line, but that is an issue with how Ford is not fully leveraging the PAG. Ford should keep them and finally integrate the product plans with Ford, but NOT from the bottom up, but from the top down (PAG down to Ford). The PAG should be the lead for all platform development/technology development for Ford/Lincoln. To preserve the exclusivity of Volvo /Jaguar/ Land Rover, the platforms should remain exclusive to the PAG. Then, once retired, have the "old" platforms serve as the underpinnings of Fords and Lincolns while the PAG moves on to new modern ones. This would give platforms the ability to pay for themselves not only in volume, but in time as well (10 plus years in total!). Though not as flexible as global platforms, it does however maintain exclusiveness, longer depreciation cycles, and consistent trickle down of technology.

Anonymous

Car Trivia: June 14, 2007

1. Erwin George Baker set long distance speed records and later became NASCAR's first Commissioner.  What was his nickname?

2. This GM division was the first U.S. carmaker to manufacture over three million cars and trucks in one year.

3. This term refers to the number and arrangement of a car's wheel studs.

4. In the late 1920s, this company's L29 model was America 's first mass-produced front-wheel drive car.

5. Which of the Big Three brands was the best-selling in the 1957 model year?

6. These engine parts might carry the apt Perfect Circle brand name.

7. Which 1998 model had ZX2 "Hot" and "Cool" variants?

8. This 4x4 brand offers an optional system to increase or decrease tire pressure while in motion.

9. This engine adjunct might have the brand name Stromberg, Carter, SU, Holley or Rochester.

10. Its maker called this new-for-1978 model the Bi-Drive Recreational All-Terrain Transporter.