Apparently three turbos weren’t enough for the BMW M550d xDrive. The previous F10 model was already pushing 376 hp and 740 Nm from its peculiar tri-turbo setup, but for the G30 M550d xDrive the engineers decided to give it another turbo for good measure.
While Audi is moving towards 48-volt e-turbo tech for that low-end kick (and also to boost efficiency), BMW is keeping it old-school with mechanical turbochargers. It’s quite a complex multi-stage turbo thingamajig, two low pressure turbos and one high pressure turbo operate together by default, while the fourth turbo (a high pressure turbo) only starts to pitch in when the engine sings past 2,500 rpm.
The engine itself is an inline-six 3.0-litre oil burner mated to an eight-speed automatic, and all that 400 hp and 760 Nm twisting force is channeled to the xDrive all-wheel drive system. The sedan version will hit 100 km/h from standstill in 4.4 seconds while the Touring takes a couple of tenths slower, but both share a limited top speed of 250 km/h.
In terms of looks, well, it looks just like another G30 5er with an M Sport kit, so it gets a 10 mm lower M Sport suspension and 19-inch wheels as standard. Some bits like the wing mirrors, grille and rims are finished in Cerium Grey, but it’s all very subtle until you see the “M550d” badge on the boot lid. That’s when you realise you shouldn’t tailgate it too close.
But it’s not like you’ll be seeing the M550d xDrive on Malaysian roads because we don’t think it will ever be launched here. However, if you’re in Europe, the sedan will be available from July, followed by the Touring towards the end of the year. You can still get the almost similar looking car here though, the 530i M Sport currently retails at RM399k.
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