Bye-Bye 2009: Best Car of the Decade

By John LeBlanc Although it might not have been the most environmentally friendly vehicle (i.e. Toyota Prius) or illustrate the global economic shift to emerging markets from the once dominant Western automakers (i.e. Tata Nano), but for me, the previous-generation BMW M5 is my favourite car from the past 10 years. It debuted in Europe in 1998 (on a 5 Series body style already on sale for three years) and took until 2000 to come to Canada. It didn't take as long for the so-called E39-generation M5 to become a member of my sports sedan hall of fame. This Q-ship's hand-built engine was a bored and stroked version of BMW's 4.0-litre V8 found in the regular 540i. Now a healthy 4.9L, it created 394 hp and 370 lb.-ft. of Bavarian cream thrust. And unlike today's M5, you had to know how to use a clutch: all were equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox. Zero to 100 km/h took less than five seconds. Top speed was an electronically controlled 250 km/h. Unfettered, 290 km/h was a relative breeze. Yet to be "Bangle-ized," the E39 actually looks like a BMW should - all business. My only debit against BMW is that they never produced an E39 M5 wagon.

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