Quad-Turbo BMW M550d xDrive Revealed — As Quick As An M5

BMW has revealed the top-spec 5 Series diesel variant in the form of the M550d xDrive.

Published: Thursday, April 27, 2017, 21:58 [IST]

German carmaker BMW has revealed the M550d xDrive, the top-spec variant of its new 5 Series that was unveiled at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show.

The new BMW M550d xDrive is powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine which is helped along by four turbochargers.

The engine, which BMW claims is the most powerful diesel six-cylinder engine in the world produces 395bhp and 760Nm of torque which is sent to all four wheels by an eight-speed automatic gearbox and BMW's xDrive four-wheel-drive system.

The BMW M550d xDrive sprints from 0-100km/h in just 4.4 seconds which is as quick as the last-generation M5, which will be replaced soon. The M550d xDrive has an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

The previous-gen M550d had a triple turbo setup mounted to the straight six diesel engine, but BMW claims that the extra turbo in the new car "further optimises the engine's efficiency and performance characteristics."

Two of the turbos work at the lower rpms pushing 450Nm of torque out at just 1,000rpm. The two high-pressure turbos take longer to spool up, but when they do at around 2,000rpm, the M550d unleashes all of its peak torque figure on all four wheels.

The BMW M550d xDrive is available in both sedan, and estate form and all models come with BMW's M aerodynamic package, M Sports suspension lowered by 10mm, Integral Active Steering and exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels as standard.

Also present are a set of dark chrome M Performance exhausts and blue metallic M Sport brake callipers, while most of the trim pieces are done up in Cerium Grey.