BMW M550i xDrive (USA)
The BMW M550i xDrive has
now been confirmed to headline BMW's showcase at the upcoming Detroit Auto
Show, and will arrive at US dealers in spring 2017. When it does, it will pack
the performance capabilities to make up for lost time.
The first M Performance version of the 5 Series to
launch in North America, the M550i packs a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, just like
the outgoing M5. In this application, it's been detuned to deliver 456
horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. That's substantially less than the outgoing
M5's 553 hp and 502 lb-ft (or the 600 hp and 516 lb-ft that came with the
Competition package), but with rear-biased all-wheel drive, it's expected to
rocket from 0-96 km/h in under four seconds en route to its
electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Add to that upgraded brakes, rolling stock, and
aero, and an an adaptive suspension dropped by 10 millimeters, and you're
looking at a substantially transformed performance sedan, with the traction to
hustle along through varying conditions.
Pricing won't be confirmed until closer to its market launch next spring. At
that point, it will join the M240i, X4 M40i, and M760i in BMW's growing M Performance lineup.
