AutoExpress UK had the opportunity to drive the all-new BMW M550d xDrive.
The new M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology gives the six-cylinder in-line diesel engine powering the BMW M550d xDrive and BMW M550d xDrive Touring maximum output of 280 kW/381 hp and peak torque of 740 Newton meters (546 lb-ft).
But how does it feel on the road? Let’s see an excerpt from the article:
“The engine even makes a decent noise thanks to a sports exhaust: it sounds unlike any other diesel on the market.
So the M550d is certainly fast, but it’s also economical. When you turn the Drive Performance Control switch to Eco Pro mode, the eight-speed auto gearbox shifts up earlier and the air-conditioning is also adjusted to boost efficiency, so you should be able to get close to the claimed 44.8mpg fuel economy. What’s more, the car only emits 165g/km of CO2.
But with a much heavier engine in the nose, can the diesel M550d possibly be as good at tackling corners as the twin-turbo petrol M5?
Tipping the scales at 1,970kg, the newcomer only weighs 25kg more than the M5, which is even more impressive when you consider that figure includes the complex xDrive four-wheel-drive system, too.
BMW’s M Sport suspension is standard, although it stops short of a set-up as stiff and sporty as the M5’s. Still, the combination of adaptive dampers, all-wheel-drive traction and fast responses makes for a very enjoyable drive.”
Author: Horatiu Boeriu
Source: http://www.bmwblog.com/2012/02/24/autoe ... 0d-xdrive/