The BMW M550i is one heck of a set of wheels. With
456 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque on tap, it’ll rocket to 60 in under four
seconds – making it quicker than the previous M5 with which it shares its
4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, and just half a second more lethargic than the new
one.
If that new M5 weren’t such a bonkers performance
machine, we’d scarcely think it’d be necessary. In fact, looking at this
particular machine, we can’t help but wonder if this wouldn’t be the one we’d
want.
On display at the world’s largest BMW dealership,
located in the Persian Gulf emirate of Abu Dhabi, is a brand-new M550i xDrive,
all decked out in white with a deep brown leather interior. Making it even more
tempting is the optional M Performance body kit it wears and those oversized
20-inch alloys in a dark grey finish.
Even more compelling is the price gap from this
model to the full-on M5. While the top-level model will set you back over US$ 100k
in these United States, the M550i sells for less than US$ 75k. That’s a heck of a
difference – about enough to buy a base Ford Mustang with the EcoBoost turbo
four. If we didn’t have the six figures to spend, we get the feeling we’d be
plenty satisfied with the next best thing.
Shame that, with new emissions regulations coming
into effect, the Bavarian automaker has reportedly had to shut down production
of the M550i – albeit only temporarily. Here’s hoping that when it reemerges
with new restrictions in place, it won’t prove any less tempting.
