Blazing Bimmers: The 10 Fastest BMWs MotorTrend Has Ever Tested
BMWs have been getting faster with electrification, but there are still a couple of lighter cars at the top of the heap.
MotorTrend has performed instrumented testing of more than 300 BMWs over the years, and from that group, we’ve rounded up the ten fastest BMW models we’ve tested to date. Out of those ten vehicles, the most powerful from a pure horsepower perspective is the all-new BMW M5 at 717 hp, of which we’ve tested the wagon version, an M5 Touring, thus far. More fun facts: the bottom three were all-electric powered, two packed twin-turbo I-6 engines, and five were powered by BMW’s longstanding twin-turbo V-8, and with one of those being a plug-in hybrid.
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Interestingly, only one was rear-wheel drive; one was the wagon, one an SUV—and all of them were from the 2018 model year or later. We ranked these ten fastest BMWs by their quarter mile times, and to break the ties, we used the higher trap speed to determine the finishing order. Read on to see which one of your favorite Ultimate Driving Machines made the list of the Top 10 fastest BMWs we’ve tested.
1. 2022 BMW M5 CS | 10.7 seconds at 129.7 mph
For now at least, the special-edition 2022 BMW M5 CS is the fastest BMW car we’ve ever tested, the top dog (or German Shepherd, if you will), thanks in large part to its wicked 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 with 627 horsepower and 8-speed automatic combo, which helped propel the carbon-fiber lightened machine to a wildly impressive 10.7-second quarter mile time at 129.7 mph, one of the best of all time, BMW or otherwise. Its 0-to-60 mph time is a blistering 2.6 seconds, also among the quickest times we’ve ever recorded.
Here’s what we had to say about how the F90 (sixth generation) M5 CS performed in our First Test: “In our acceleration testing, the 2022 BMW M5 CS produced its best launches via its launch-control mode. This produced consistent, clean, and smooth yet explosive launches, and we noted how well the car put the power down without drama. Indeed, it exhibited zero, or almost zero, wheelslip; the AWD just dug in and blasted the car down the track. Our best 0-to-60-mph time came in at a double-take—hell, triple-take—inducing 2.6 seconds. The BMW's performance through the quarter mile was no less stunning.”
Read the FIRST TEST of the 2022 BMW M5 CS
2. 2023 BMW M4 CSL | 11.1 seconds at 128.8 mph
After sleeping on the CSL moniker for two decades, BMW woke up and chose violence—and in doing so produced the second-place finisher on our list of the ten fastest BMWs we’re ever tested. The lightweight CSL, with its 543-horse, twin-turbo I-6, is the fastest and quickest M3 or M4 model we’ve ever strapped our gear onto. It’s also the only rear-drive model on this list.
Here’s what we had to say about the M4 CSL’s capabilities in our First Test: “Race cars are loud, uncomfortable, violent machines, so the fact that the 2023 BMW M4 CSL is also loud, uncomfortable, and violent should arguably be scored in the Pros column of this review. It's proof that this limited-edition M4 isn't a lame paint-and-badging nostalgia job. Instead, the CSL represents a rare instance of truth in advertising—it is the race car for the road that BMW claims it is. Stripped of basic comforts and boosted with an extra 40 horsepower, the CSL is the quickest BMW M3 or M4 MotorTrend has ever tested. Its track tires and hardened chassis help it steer with alacrity and deliver the tactile feedback that's missing from so many modern BMWs.”
Read the FIRST TEST of the 2023 BMW M4 CSL
3. 2018 BMW M5 | 11.1 seconds at 126.7 mph
The first time we got our hands on the F90 generation BMW M5 for testing, it didn’t disappoint, almost breaking into the 10s in the quarter mile—a number that still stands tied for the second fastest time we’ve ever recorded in a BMW, tiebreaking trap speeds notwithstanding. The oldest car from a model year perspective on this list, its 3.0-second 0-to-60 mph time isn’t any slouch, either. Interestingly, both its quarter mile and 60 mph times are 0.4 second shy of the newer, lighter, and more powerful M5 CS.
Here’s a piece of what we had to say about the M5 during our First Test back in 2018: “Zero to 60 mph happens in 3.0 seconds. Yes, 3 seconds flat to 60 mph. McLaren 675LT? Zero to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds. Acura NSX? 3.1 seconds. More importantly, the 603-hp Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4Matic+ takes 3.2 seconds to hit 60 mph, the 605-hp Audi RS7 does 3.3 seconds, and the 640-hp Cadillac CTS-V needs 3.8. If you want to get to 60 mph quicker in a four-door vehicle, call Tesla, as the instant-torque Model S P100D Ludicrous Plus is our all-time champ at 2.3 seconds. The M5 is real quick.”
Read the FIRST TEST of the 2018 BMW M5
4. 2022 BMW M3 Competition | 11.1 seconds at 124.7 mph
Call it fugly if you want—you'll probably only see the taillights of the fourth-fastest BMW we’ve ever tested and tied for second overall in pure quarter-mile time: the 2022 BMW M3 Competition. It’s a meaner version of the M3, with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system that helps aid wicked quick launches.
Here's what we had to say about how the M3 Comp felt in our First Test: “BMW says the engine produces 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. But man, it seems like there's no way this I-6 punches below 600 hp. Equipped with BMW's available xDrive all-wheel drive, the M3 Competition we tested shoots to 60 mph in 3-seconds flat. The quarter mile is dispatched in 11.1 seconds at 124.7 mph. That's Porsche and performance-electric-vehicle territory.”
Read the FIRST TEST of the 2022 BMW M3 Competition (xDrive)
5. 2025 BMW M5 Touring | 11.2 seconds at 126.1 mph
The long-roof M5, part of the new, seventh-generation G90 M5 family, marks the first time the wagon version of the M5 has been offered here in the U.S. Launched as a response to the success of Audi’s RS6 Avant, the Touring, like its M5 sedan sibling, is a plug-in hybrid, with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 assisted by an electric motor integrated into the transmission. Together, they deliver peaks of 717 hp and 738 lb-ft to all four wheels, making it the most powerful BMW on this list by far. But it isn’t the fastest BMW, with part of that reason being weight, and a lot of it.
Here’s a snippet of what we had to say about the M5 Touring as part of our First Test: “The M5 Touring’s 3.2-second 0–60 run is an impressive number for a gasoline-fueled car, as is its quarter-mile time of 11.2 seconds at 126.1 mph—or at least it is until Old Man Perspective pops his head into frame and we compare the new M5 to the previous-generation car. The 2022 M5 sedan has 627 hp, 553 lb-ft, no hybrid assistance, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and it was quicker to 60 by six-tenth of a second, and faster through the quarter mile by half a second and 3.6 mph.”
Read the FIRST TEST of the 2025 BMW M5 Touring
6. 2020 M8 Competition Coupe | 11.4 seconds at 124.6 mph
This 617-hp GT is ready for the drift competition, and it snagged sixth place in our lineup of the top ten fastest BMWs MotorTrend has tested. We had loads of fun working the big M’s rear tires around our figure eight test circuit, where one of our test team reported “the tread in the center of the right-rear tire melted and peeled off.”
Another test editor said this about the big, V-8-powered Bimmer: “How well this car handles depends entirely on how judicious you are with your right foot. Take it to a racetrack for anything other than a drift competition, and your lap time will depend on how precisely you can control the throttle. It has the mechanical ability to carry some serious speed through the corners, but it’s entirely up to you to exploit it, and you'll spend a lot of time looking for the razor’s edge between maximum performance and smoke show. If you are going to track it, go ahead and drop 3-4 psi out of all four tires before you go out, because they heat up quick, and pressures spike as soon as they get a little heat in them.”
Read the FIRST TEST of the 2020 BMW M8 Competition Coupe
7. 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe | 11.4 seconds at 123.0 mph
The Alpina-developed version of the BMW M8 Gran Coupe boasts the most torque of the purely gas-powered machines on this list, and we found the AWD battleship's 99-foot braking distance, rear-steer, and launch control to be wildly impressive for a luxury-leaning super sports sedan that’s this big.
And it’s not just good in a straight line, either. Here’s what we had to say about pushing the 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe around our MotorTrend figure-eight course: "This thing is an absolute thrill ride. The all-wheel-drive system works beautifully. It's clearly rear biased, so you can step the rear end out a few inches and rotate it all the way around the skid pad (steering with the throttle) and then stab the throttle on the exit. It wags its tail just a wee bit, and you shoot across the middle. The steering is well weighted and very precise."
Read the FIRST TEST of the 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe
8. 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive | 11.5 seconds at 124 mph
Driving an i5 is generally a comfortable experience in a vault of a machine, and we found the 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive to deliver in those categories. Does adding a second drive motor and extra horses give this German what it needs to keep up with the pack? Well, it did make its way onto this list.
Here’s some of what we had to say about the super i5 in our First Test: “What really makes the i5 M60 xDrive special is its straight-line speed. It’s fast as hell, and the launch control lays the theatrics on thick: The entire car vibrates leading up to an awesome display of electrified, head-tossing propulsion. But you can’t really appreciate it in day-to-day commuting, and you have to really ask yourself: Is the potential of the M60 worth it over an i5 eDrive40 or xDrive? "
Read the FIRST TEST of the 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive
9. 2024 i7 M70 | 11.5 seconds at 122.4 mph
Once you get past its polarizing looks, you can welcome the 2024 BMW i7 M70 into the stable of the ten fastest BMW cars ever tested. The plus-sized all-electric BMW sedan tips the scales at over three tons and yet still completes the zero-to-sixty sprint in just over three seconds.
In addition to its remarkable speed, this monster boasted a hefty ($194,645 as-tested) price, surprising handling and performance, and a fold-down widescreen TV for back seat passengers, among other upscale amenities befitting a version of BMW’s flagship sedan. Here’s a take from our First Test of the i7 M70: “BMW claims a 0-60-mph time of 3.5 seconds, but our test team recorded a 3.2-second blast. Many EVs are crazy quick—3.2 is the same as we've seen from a Rivian R1T pickup truck on off-road tires—but even still, that's a ridiculous time for a huge luxury car with reclining, massaging rear seats and a fold-down 34-inch rear entertainment screen.”
Read the FIRST TEST of the 2024 BMW i7 M70
10. 2023 BMW iX M60 | 11.5 seconds at 121.6 mph
Behold, the only SUV to grace the list of the ten fastest BMWs MotorTrend has ever tested, and it’s an EV to boot. This electric people-mover didn’t amaze us aesthetically, but it really threw down on the test track, establishing its place near the top of the heap among the heavy-yet-exciting electric SUVs.
Here’s what we had to say about the iX M60’s capabilities in our First Test of the fastest BMW SUV we’ve strapped our test gear onto: "Our test figures, while not exceptional, don't really dispute our prior conclusion: that it is a surprisingly fun electric SUV to drive. It also lacks any major compromises in pursuit of Ultimate Driving Machinations. The ride is comfortable, even in the Sport and Sport Plus drive modes, and the iX is very spacious and deathly quiet.”
Read the FIRST TEST of the 2023 BMW iX M60
*610 hp with temporary Sport Boost; 811 lb-ft with Launch Control
What’s the Fastest BMW SUV MotorTrend has ever tested?
The answer is already on the list—it’s the 2023 iX M60. The big SUV beats out the even bigger M-Division developed 2024 XM Label, which covered the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds at 122.6 mph, and the 2020 X6M Competition (11.6 seconds in the quarter mile at 119.5 mph). The fastest SUV ever tested at MotorTrend is the 2025 Rivian R1S Quad Max Ascend with an insane 10.5 second quarter mile at 128.2 mph.
The Fastest BMWs MotorTrend Has Ever Tested
1. 2022 BMW M5 CS | 10.7 seconds at 129.7 mph
2. 2023 BMW M4 CSL | 11.1 seconds at 128.8 mph
3. 2018 BMW M5 | 11.1 seconds at 126.7 mph
4. 2022 BMW M3 Competition (xDrive) | 11.1 seconds at 124.7 mph
5. 2025 BMW M5 Touring | 11.2 seconds at 126.1 mph
6. 2020 BMW M8 Competition Coupe | 11.4 seconds at 124.6 mph
7. 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe | 11.4 seconds at 123.0 mph
8. 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive | 11.5 seconds at 124 mph
9. 2024 BMW i7 M70 | 11.5 seconds at 122.4 mph
10. 2023 BMW iX M60 | 11.5 seconds at 121.6 mph
One of my seminal memories was the few months I spent helping my cousin Steve literally build me from the frame up a super sick 1970 Chevy Nova in his garage just off of 8 Mile (yes, that 8 Mile). Black with white SS stripes. 350 V-8. Blackjack headers. Ladder bars. Four on the floor. Drum brakes all around. Mainly I helped hand him the wrenches, the bondo, the buffing wheel, the beer. When it was finally done and I blistered the tires for the first time, plumes of smoke filling up my rear view, I felt like a true American Bad Ass (pre Kid Rock). That's what it was like for so many of us who grew up in The D back in the day. It was about muscle. Detroit Iron. So when I had an opportunity to get into this crazy business, you best believe I leapt like a bionic cheetah at the chance. Over the past three decades or so (carbon dating myself), I've been honored and privileged to be a part of four outstanding publications in Motor Trend, Automobile, Autoweek, and the Detroit Free Press. And while the salad days back in my cousin's garage seem a million miles away, my love for cars -- and my hometown of Detroit -- have never wavered. Neither has my commitment to delivering the best possible experience to the readers I've served and will continue to serve now and in the future.
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