Ferdinand Piëch's secret BMW M5 W10 prototype sells at auction

A unique BMW M5 E39, which served as a secret rolling laboratory for Volkswagen, has sold at auction in Belgium for €411,250. The vehicle was commissioned in the late 1990s by Ferdinand Piëch to test a proprietary 5.0-liter W10 engine, intended to develop a high-performance rival to the BMW M5.

To maintain secrecy, the project utilized an existing BMW M5 chassis rather than a custom body. The car, finished in Carbon Black Metallic, remained largely indistinguishable from a standard model from the exterior. The auction included a second identical W10 engine, marking a significant moment for automotive engineering history.