It's not what you see on BMW's new M5 teaser video that is important, but what you can hear. The soundtrack is unmistakably that of a large V8, which heralds the end of the V10 era for the M5 and a return to an eight banger.
Under the camouflaged bonnet of the M5 in the video, seen winter testing on ice-bound roads, there's a new 4.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 motor. It's reckoned to kick out 570hp to easily better the 508hp of the car it replaces.
BMW is also set to launch the M5 with a dual-clutch gearbox for the first time, doing away with the oft-criticised seven-speed automated manual of the outgoing car. The new transmission and engine combination will help reduce the M5's carbon dioxide emissions and improve economy, though performance is also said to be significantly better too. Stop-start technology will feature in the new M5, along with other elements of BMW's EfficientDynamics measures.
No word from BMW yet about performance figures, but boss of BMW's M Division Kay Segler says: "The new M5 is strong and a bold business car that, at the push of a button, turns into a sports car."
BMW is expected to reveal a production-ready M5 concept for the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, with sales starting late in 2011. The first right-hand drive cars are likely to roll off the line in early 2012.