We have to be honest. When BMW took the wraps off the M5 Competition in May last year, we had our doubts whether it will ever land in India. Well, it has, and it replaces the standard M5. BMW India has put a sticker price of Rs 1.55 crore (ex-showroom), which is Rs 11 lakh more than the model it supersedes. That price difference is not surprising, and we’ll explain why in a bit. However, it is startling to see BMW take seventeen months to introduce the M5 Competition in India.

Justifying part of the price difference is the beefed-up, 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8. In the M5 Competition, it pumps out 617hp/750Nm. While the torque figure is the same the standard M5’s, the power figure is up by 26hp. Thanks to that, the M5 replacer can hit 100kmph from nothing in 3.3 seconds (0.1 seconds quicker), and reach 200kmph in 10.8 seconds (0.3 seconds faster). The electronically-limited top speed of 250kmph, however, is identical for both models. With the optional M Driver’s Package, that last figure can go up to 305kmph.

The BMW M5 Competition puts its grunt down with the help of an 8-speed automatic transmission and the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. This iteration also sits lower to the ground, has stiffer suspension springs and boasts unique damper hydraulics. New 20-inch forged M light-alloy wheels are part of the standard kit with 10mm fatter rubber at the rear. BMW has also made the M5 Competition 65kg lighter than the standard M5, which further boosts the former’s power-to-weight ratio. All of those enhancements further help understand the price gap.

The remainder comes courtesy of the cosmetic changes inside and out. The exterior is meaner-looking, thanks to several panels, including the front grille, ORVM caps and the rear spoiler, finished in glossy black. Similarly, the décor indoors reaches higher levels of sportiness with model-specific floor mats, black seats with stripe design in BMW M colours and Aragon upholstery. As you’d expect, the list of creature comforts is quite long. It includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, wireless mobile charger, a 16-speaker 600-watt Harman Kardon sound system, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system and four-zone climate control.

The main reason behind discontinuing the M5 for its Competition derivative is easy to understand. BMW wanted to retake bragging rights in the performance sedan space. In almost every quantifiable way, the M5 Competition is better than the Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4MATIC+, which has an ex-showroom price tag of Rs 1.5 crore.