BMW M550d is a Hot Diesel Wagon That Americans Can't Buy
North Americans are constantly forced to watch as Europeans scoop up high-performance wagons, hot hatchbacks and unique diesel models, and BMW has just made another addition to the forbidden fruit bowl – the quad-turbocharged M550d.
The M550d is the second M Performance model in the all-new 5-Series’ portfolio after the German automaker debuted the V8-powered M550i earlier this year. It’s a more unique offering than the m550i, however, featuring a new diesel 3.0-liter inline-six engine with four turbochargers producing 394 horsepower and a meaty 561 lb-ft of torque. BMW’s reasoning for using four turbochargers rather than a more typical amount is simple: it wanted every last bit of torque available from just 2,000 RPM.
ALSO SEE: Everything We Know About the 2018 BMW M5
The M550d’s sole transmission option is an eight-speed automatic, with no manual optional on the cards, unfortunately. Power is channelled through BMW’s rear-biased xDrive all-wheel drive system. On the U.S. cycle, the diesel four-door would return the equivalent of about 40 MPG.
The M550d is available as a sedan or a wagon and is set apart from lesser 5-Series models by its unique sport body kit and model exclusive 19-inch or 20-inch wheels. The interior boasts an ‘M Performance’ theme with sport seats, faux-suede accents, aluminum dash, door and console trim and an abundance of BMW ‘M’ badges.
Pricing for the BMW M550d has yet to be announced, but as we mentioned previous, it won’t be reaching U.S. shores.
Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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At what cost?, and what happens to quad diesel engines that develop faults AFTER the warranty runs out?. POINTLESS here in the UK as Diesel Cars are going "out of fashion" with the government and face heavy Tax penalties in the future.