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Juraj Slafkovský has become one of the breakout names of the ongoing Olympic hockey tournament, but for readers of a Czech automotive site his off-ice life is equally interesting: the 21-year-old Montréal Canadiens forward reportedly owns a high-performance BMW M5 plug-in hybrid — yet says he no longer drives after a road accident. That contradiction raises questions about high-performance cars, safety and buyer behaviour in the Czech market and across the region, from Praha to Lietuva.
What Slafkovský bought: BMW M5 plug-in hybrid
Specifications and performance
According to publicly available information, Slafkovský chose the latest M5 plug-in hybrid, a performance sedan with around 727 hp in factory configuration. The model combines a powerful internal combustion engine with electric assistance for instant torque, strong mid-range thrust and significantly improved sprint performance compared to conventionally powered rivals. Practical figures put this class of car in the low 3-second range for 0–100 km/h and with an electronic limiter for top speed when factory options are combined.
Design and equipment
The M5 remains a benchmark for buyers wanting executive comfort paired with track-capable dynamics: aggressive bodywork, sports suspension, premium interior materials and modern infotainment. In the Czech Republic the vehicle appears most often in discreet colours — black in Slafkovský’s case — where buyers favour a blend of understated looks and raw performance.
Market positioning and availability in Czechia
In Czech dealerships the BMW M5 plug-in hybrid sits at the top of the fast sedan segment. Official pricing in Czechia starts at approximately 3,779,100 Kč for similarly equipped models, but optional packs and taxes can push the final price considerably higher. Waiting lists and limited allocations for performance PHEVs make new deliveries less frequent; many Czech buyers therefore search the used market or look abroad (Germany, Austria) for immediate availability.
How this matters to Czech and regional drivers
High-performance plug-in hybrids are gaining traction among Czech drivers and professionals interested in both performance and lower urban emissions. Compared with purely combustion AMG or RS rivals, PHEV models offer electric-only city driving and lower on-paper CO2, which influences company-car taxation and fleet choices. The trend is visible not only in Praha and Brno but also in neighbouring markets — demand patterns in Lietuva and data from Lietuvos automobilių rinka show similar interest spikes. Dealers report inquiries from vairuotojams Lietuvoje, with listings concentrated in Vilniuje and Kaune for early adopters looking to import.
Comparisons and ownership considerations
Compared to Mercedes-AMG E63 or Audi RS6, the M5 PHEV targets a niche buyer who wants electrified boost plus BMW dynamics. For Czech consumers the main trade-offs are cost of ownership, servicing complexity and charging infrastructure. While charging networks in Czechia are expanding, running costs and insurance for high-performance sedans remain high — a factor that influences how often owners actually drive such cars.
Why Slafkovský may not drive despite owning an M5
In an NHL YouTube interview he revealed that a collision shortly before the season’s first home game left him shaken; since then a teammate has been driving him to matches. Whether the M5 sustained damage or remains in regular use is unconfirmed. The episode underlines that even high-profile owners sometimes prefer to be passengers — a reminder that vehicle choice and actual driving behaviour can diverge, especially after traumatic events.
For Czech readers, Slafkovský’s case is a useful example of how image, performance and personal circumstances intersect in today’s automotive market across Central Europe.
Zdroj: garaz
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