Daily Car News: BMW M5 Facelift Plays Dress-Up, Plus the Record Holden Ute With Pontiac DNA

I kicked off the day with a double espresso and two very different kinds of noise. First, the BMW M5 facelift sneaking around in camouflage like it owes the neighbors money. Second, an Australian folk hero—a supercharged Holden ute—setting a record that would make a Bathurst marshal blush. One is the future being careful; the other is the past cashing in. Both made me grin for different reasons.

BMW M5 Facelift: Camo Up Front, Business as Usual Everywhere Else

BMW’s current M5 (G90) is barely out of the wrapping and already trying on a new face. I watched the latest spy video a few too many times (occupational hazard), and although the front end wears a cheeky mask that hints at Neue Klasse styling, the bones are pure M5 LCI. It’s the fake moustache at a family reunion—you still know who it is.

Context: I ran a G90 for a week earlier this year, and you feel its split personality immediately. Early-morning EV mode to the gym? Silent, almost smug. Open road, Sport mode, battery cooperating? The twin-turbo V8 drops the velvet gloves. Yes, at north of 5,300 pounds, you sense the mass over broken pavement. But on a flowing section, the chassis settles and the torque does the heavy lifting. It’s not a featherweight rapier—more like a titanium sledgehammer with expensive manners.

What I Expect From the BMW M5 Facelift

• Sharper lighting signatures and grille tweaks (hence the “fake nose”).
• Infotainment polish and driver-assist refinements—BMW always sneaks in smoother logic mid-cycle.
• Suspension recalibration to round off sharp impacts and better hide the mass.
• Minor efficiency gains; don’t be shocked if EV-only range nudges upward.

Under the skin? Don’t bet on a revolution. The plug-in-hybrid punch, slick automatic, and playful AWD with selectable 2WD are the headliners, and they’re not leaving the stage. When I tried Comfort mode over frost-heaved suburban streets, it rode like a very expensive slippers-only lounge. Flip to Sport Plus on a cold morning and the e-boost fills gaps in the torque curve with that “did someone just push this road under me?” surge. The brake-blend between regen and friction is some of the best in the game—occasional softness at the top of the pedal, but consistent once you recalibrate your foot.

BMW M5 Facelift vs. Last-Gen: The Fast Facts

Should You Wait for the BMW M5 Facelift or Buy Now?

• If you want the freshest lighting, the latest iDrive tweaks, and subtly calmer damping, waiting makes sense.
• If you’re cross-shopping AMG E 63 and Audi RS 7 today, the current M5’s breadth—quiet commute one moment, alpine sledge the next—already nails the brief.
• Deal sweeteners on non-facelift cars can be real; I’ve seen dealers get flexible when the camo cars show up online.

Australia’s Priciest Holden Road Car Ever: A Ute With Pontiac What-Ifs

Meanwhile, south of the equator, an Aussie icon just reset the collector-car leaderboard. The most expensive Holden road car ever sold? A ute. Of course it is. And not any ute—the ultimate, end-of-the-line, supercharged, limited-build manual that nearly crossed the Pacific as the Pontiac G8 ST before GM 2009 happened.

I spent a stint in Victoria during the VF era. The smell of sun-warmed leather, eucalyptus in the air, and a faint burble from a driveway two streets over—that was suburban music. The recipe never got old: big V8 up front, rear-drive, serious chassis tuning, and a tray that’ll haul anything from surfboards to a Bunnings haul. The record-setter is the apex of that formula, equal parts folklore and tire smoke.

• Provenance: Late-build HSVs are sacred to Aussie enthusiasts.
• Rarity: Tiny numbers, and even fewer in hero specs.
• Hardware: Supercharged V8, six-speed manual, and the best of GM’s Zeta platform know-how.
• What-if factor: It almost wore a Pontiac badge. Collectors love alternate timelines.
• Culture: With local manufacturing gone and the brand retired, this is rolling history.

I last hustled a similar ute over coarse-chip tarmac west of Melbourne. The rear axle talked constantly—never nervous, just chatty. Toss a mountain bike in the back, a duffel on the passenger seat, and you’ve got the world’s most charmingly antisocial lifestyle vehicle. Valet it in Sydney and somebody will ask for a selfie. Take it to a track day and, well, hello noise meter.

Why These Two Stories Matter

The BMW M5 facelift is the modern super-sedan brief perfected for people who want quiet mornings and loud afternoons. The record Holden ute is analog joy distilled—scarcity, sound, swagger—and proof that memory adds value. One looks forward with software and calibration; the other looks back with a wink and a lumpy idle.

Quick Hits and Owner-Style Notes

• M5 infotainment is powerful but menu-deep; set favorites, then stop digging.
• Seat comfort is long-haul excellent, though I’d take a touch more thigh support for tall drivers.
• AMG E 63 corners with more hooligan edge; RS 7 rides a hair softer around town. The M5 splits the difference.
• Ute tray covers can rattle over corrugations—foam tape is your friend.
• Garage life: the M5’s turning circle is kinder than its size suggests; the ute’s bed means mind your tail in tight car parks.

Conclusion: The BMW M5 Facelift Keeps the Faith, The Holden Ute Keeps the Flame

Camouflage can hide a grille, not intent. The BMW M5 facelift looks set to refine a formula that already nails the luxury performance sedan sweet spot—silent when you need, thunder when you want. And that record Holden ute? It’s proof that simple, charismatic machines still bend the room’s attention their way. Different paths to the same outcome: you, smiling, as the road opens up.

FAQ

When will the BMW M5 facelift arrive?

BMW hasn’t confirmed timing, but mid-cycle updates typically land a couple of years after launch. Given the camouflaged testers, sooner rather than later is a safe bet.

Is the current BMW M5 still a plug-in hybrid?

Yes. It pairs a twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor for around 717 hp and all-wheel drive, plus a selectable 2WD mode for track work.

Should I wait for the BMW M5 facelift or buy now?

If you want the freshest lighting and updated software, wait. If you value deals and the core experience, the current car already delivers in a big way.

Which Holden just set the record and why so expensive?

An end-of-line, supercharged V8 HSV-bred ute with a manual. Rarity, provenance, and the end of Australian manufacturing all pushed values skyward.

What happened to the Pontiac G8 ST?

It was the planned U.S. cousin of the Holden ute, canceled during GM’s 2009 restructuring. That “almost happened” allure only makes the Aussie versions hotter now.