BMW M Performance
BMW M Performance: Tri-turbo quartet
For power hungry BMW enthusiasts there will soon be no less than four alternatives to the standard BMW M5, X5 M and X6 M models. Now there will be 'M Performance' versions available with greater diesel power than ever before thanks to a trio of turbos. (Florian Maier , 26.01.2012)
Tradition re-interpreted
Even if die-hard fans may wonder at the new combination of the ‘M’ designation and diesel motorization… some find it mostly a joke… the idea of positioning ‘M Performance’ versions between the standard models and the pedigree ‘M’ variants is by no means new. Back in the eighties there was a BMW 535i to be had, the top of the first generation 5-Series range at the time and in its second generation a step towards the first M5 model. Bearing this in mind the new ‘M Performance’ models can be seen as the re-interpretation of an established tradition.
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- The newly developed diesel-powered straight six motor gets from three-litres displacement 381 horsepower and 740 Nm of torque available from as low and 2,000 RPM. It is boosted by three turbo chargers and Common Rail direct injection technology allows a maximum injection pressure of 2,200 bar.
At the Geneva salon at the beginning of March the BMW M550d xDrive, M550d xDrive Touring, X5 M50d and X6 M50d models will have their world première. The sales launches will take place in the months of May and June according to the car maker. What all of these performance models built by M GmbH have in common is the newly developed diesel-powered straight six motor boosted by three turbo chargers. This gets from three-litres displacement 381 horsepower and 740 Nm of torque available from as low and 2,000 RPM!
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- Front and back fenders have something of the allure on other ‘M’ models, in particular the 5-Series top model, the M5.
Business performance
The current BMW 5-Series generation of the ‘Type F10’ or ‘Type F11’ has been greeted with enthusiasm by auto industry professionals since the launch in 2010. Not only is the styling now acceptable… after many had thought the range fatally damaged in respect of its design… but the efficient and powerful motorizations also found a warm welcome. And it in this latter respect that the new performance model M550d xDrive scores maximum points…. The tri-turbo diesel is just the thing for those who found the 535d too tame and the M5 much too costly. The sedan now rushes to a hundred kilometres an hour in 4.7 seconds and the Touring is close behind at 4.9 seconds. Also noteworthy… the 5-Series performance models call for only 6.3 and 6.4 litres respectively per hundred driven kilometres according to the EU test cycle measurement criteria.
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- The ‘M’ sports suspension and the dynamic all-wheel-drive system have been tweaked by M GmbH for the specific model in order to have their performance on the tarmac improved further.
The ‘M Performance’ models do not carry the significant ‘M’ without good reason. Externally the M550d xDrive and its load loving sibling show only very subtle signs of their specificity. Front and back fenders have something of the allure on other ‘M’ models. The cars also benefit from the installation on 19 inch ‘M’ rims and bigger alloys can be fitted if the customer so chooses. Another clue will be the livery in ‘Ferric Grey Metal’. As standard both tri-turbo 5-Series cars feature a range of technology gimmicks, most intended to contribute to the better driving dynamics. Thus it is that that the BMW all-wheel-drive system ‘xDrive’ has been adapted to give more dynamism… in particular when the cars are driven in a sporty manner. The eight-stage automatic transmission has also been optimized resulting in faster shifting and a better utilization of the power characteristics of the motor. The BMW M550d xDrive will be in the showrooms from the 12th of May priced from 80 thousand Euros with the Touring version costing 83,750 Euros.
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- The X5 M50d will reach a hundred kilometres an hour in 5.3 seconds.
Sports Activity Performance
It is more or less the same story with the performance versions of the BMW X5 and X6. The SAV or the SAC… whatever one chooses to call them… are meant to set new standards in their class with the new power diesels. While the X5 M50d will reach a hundred kilometres an hour in 5.4 seconds the X6 M50d will in all likelihood shave this down to 5.3 seconds. And the fuel consumption for these big autos will drop to 7.5 litres and 7.7 litres of diesel respectively per hundred driven kilometres… hardly more than was required by the most potent diesels previously on offer.
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- Aerodynamics kit and ‘M Sport’ rims are also on hand for the SAV giants.
The off-roaders will also have their performance on the tarmac improved further through the adoption of the ‘M’ sports suspension and the dynamic all-wheel-drive system tweaked by M GmbH for the specific model. Visually the X5 M50d and X6 M50d are also recognizable for their aerodynamically optimized body elements, such as the exterior rear-view mirror housings, the bars of the air intakes and the light metal wheels in ‘Ferric Grey Metal’ finish. The sales start for these two big cars is to be the 16th of June. The price for the X5 M50d will be at least 82,300 Euros and for the X6 M50d no less than 85,800 Euros.
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- The price for the X5 M50d will be at least 82,300 Euros and for the X6 M50d no less than 85,800 Euros when the cars go on sale in June..
Performance hungry BMW drivers with an inclination to drive efficiently will certainly find enjoyment with the tri-turbo autos. To be sure it will take a while to get used to seeing the magic initial ‘M’ associated with diesel power, but the pointers are towards success, even with the typically high BMW prices.
'M' diesel power... innovation or gimmick?
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It’s great! More power with less fuel.51%
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Who cares? They are still BMWs.25 %
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A gimmick! ‘M’ power means petrol-fuelled!12 %
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I need to drive one before I decide.12 %
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