On this episode of Head 2 Head, MotorTrend’s Jonny Lieberman pits the 2013 BMW M5 against the 2013 Porsche Panamera GTS in an epic super sedan showdown. The battle begins in California’s Mojave desert with a classic quarter-mile drag race. Then Jonny takes both V-8 powered sports saloons up to Big Bear, California to find out which one carves up the winding mountain roads the best.
The F10 M5 is powered by a high-revving 4.4-liter (4395cc) turbocharged that uses the BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology. The engine outputs 560 horsepower from 5,750-7,000 rpm and 680Nm (502 lb-ft) of torque from only 1500rpm. It comes in both manual and 7-speed DCT transmission. The base price of the F10 M5 is $90,695, but the model tested came close to $105,000.
Basically a sportier version of the current Panamera 4S, the $110,875 GTS is powered by a naturally-aspirated direct-injection 4.8-liter, 32-valve DOHC V8 with variable valve timing/tift and dry-sump lubrication mated to a seven-speed automated manual gearbox (PDK). The engine produces 430 hp at 6,700 rpm and 384 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm.
So which one takes the win?
