[REVISION HISTORY]

Auction of Volkswagen-powered BMW M5 prototype

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2026-10-05 13:19 UTC → 2026-10-22 19:45 UTC · added ~~removed~~

A unique BMW M5 E39 prototype, featuring a rare Volkswagen-developed W10 engine, ~~is scheduled to be~~ was auctioned by Broad Arrow Auctions on October 9, 2026, at the Zoute Concours in Knokke-Heist, Belgium. The vehicle sold for €411,250. Commissioned in 1999 by then-Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piëch, the project served as a high-performance test ~~platform.~~ platform and a “secret rolling laboratory” for Volkswagen. The 5.0-liter, naturally aspirated W10 engine was created by merging two 2.5-liter VR5 five-cylinder engines, costing approximately 4 million Deutsche Marks at the time. This engineering work provided the foundation for later W12 and Bugatti W16 engines. Only three such W10 engines were ever produced. The prototype produces between 473 and 480 ~~hp and is~~ hp, outperforming the ~~only road-registered vehicle to carry this specific powerplant, which is currently registered~~ standard S62 V8 found in ~~Slovakia. The~~ production M5 models. To maintain secrecy, the car ~~is expected to sell for an estimated €250,000 to €350,000.~~ was finished in Carbon Black Metallic and remained largely indistinguishable from a standard M5 from the exterior. However, it featured specialized modifications including a standalone ECU, a Stack racing dashboard, and the deactivation of anti-lock brakes and traction control. The auction also included a second, identical W10 engine.

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