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Diesel engines and 44.8 mpg come to BMW M cars with the new BMW M550d xDrive Saloon, BMW M550d xDrive Touring, BMW X5 M50d and BMW X6 M50d .
It’s a newly developed six-cylinder in-line diesel engine with three turbochargers, with a maximum output of 381 hp and huge peak torque of 740 Nm.
Although the new engines have enhanced power delivery, fuel consumption and emissions figures in the EU test cycle are almost unchanged.
All of the cars also have BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive and an eight-speed Sports automatic gearbox.
The new models, with the most powerful diesel engine ever fitted in one of the brand’s models, will carry the title of BMW M Performance.
The 3-litre, six-cylinder in-line engine has an output of 127 hp per litre of displacement. For the first time, a BMW engine will feature three turbochargers. The size, arrangement and interplay of the turbos are designed to guarantee maximum power delivery across a wide rev band. The system comprises two relatively small turbochargers and one large turbo, which join forces precisely to deliver the amount of power required.
As well as the BMW M550d xDrive saloon there’s also a BMW M550d xDrive Touring.
The BMW M550d xDrive Saloon accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the BMW M550d xDrive Touring covers the same sprint in 4.9 seconds.
In the EU test cycle the Saloon records fuel consumption of 44.8 mpg, and the Touring 44.1 mpg. CO 2 emissions are 165 g/km for the BMW M550d xDrive Sedan and 169 g/km for the BMW M550d xDrive Touring. Both models also meet the requirements specified by the EU6 exhaust standard.
The BMW xDrive electronic all-wheel-drive system improves the cars’ cornering dynamics, as well as enhancing traction and directional stability.
The BMW X5 M50d accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds, the BMW X6 M50d in 5.3 seconds, while average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 37.7 mpg for the Sports Activity Vehicle and 36.7 mpg for the Sports Activity Coupé – only slightly above the figures for the existing diesel variants of the two models. CO 2 emissions are 199 g/km for the BMW X5 M50d and 204 g/km for the BMW X6 M50d.
Read our BMW 520d EfficientDynamics road test
