Recently a new chapter opened for BMW M, diesel. For many years diesel was associated with black smoke, annoying knocking noise. Then, new technologies started to make diesel more entertaining, in 2002 Mercedes introduced C30 CDi SportCoupe AMG model to offer a diesel for the high performance segment. However, it was too early for the diesel to race with petrol powered performance cars.
Years passed, petrol priced jumped to unbelievable levels. People started to like diesel more, even the models like Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7 Series increased its diesel sales. Later on, Porsche offered diesel with Cayenne and then with Panamera. Diesel; now became synonym with performance and economy.
After all, BMW released the gossip of diesel M Models. It was very fragile, hard to believe. The iconic M brand will be offering diesel models. Later on, the footage was released and everyone started to believe that we will see diesel M Model.
And yesterday, they released the footage with BMW X6 M50d, X5 M50d, M550d Sedan and Estate with rear biased xDrive models. BMW created a new type of branding for M Diesel models; for SUVs they are using two numbers 50 to small d letter. For sedan models, M letter placed in front of the 550d. This is a totally new way of branding the diesel engines for BMW. And most importantly, this new engine is only available with four-wheel drive! What we should understand from this? This engine is very powerful and four-wheel drive enables to control it more easily due to high torque level.
In addition, the Audi RS and S models are not alone any more on market. They were offering the Quattro four-wheel drive technology on high performance models and competitors were offering only rear wheel drive models. Now, the equation has changed! Audi is not alone with Quattro!
However, this diesel engine is not 5-lt. It is a 3-lt engine with three turbo chargers, producing 381 PS with 740 nm of torque. If you don’t know what it torque, 740 is a really big number! You will not feel any hesitation to accelerate with this new diesel engine.
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BMW M Performance models: performance figures, fuel consumption, CO2 emissions:
BMW M550d xDrive Sedan:
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.7 seconds, top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph), average fuel consumption: 6.3 litres/100 kilometres (44.8 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 165 g/km, exhaust standard: EU6.
BMW M550d xDrive Touring:
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.9 seconds, top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph), average fuel consumption: 6.4 litres/100 kilometres (44.1 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 169 g/km, exhaust standard: EU6. BMW X5 M50d: Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 5.4 seconds, top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph), average fuel consumption: 7.5 litres/100 kilometres (37.7 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 199 g/km, exhaust standard: EU5.
BMW X6 M50d:
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 5.3 seconds, top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph), average fuel consumption: 7.7 litres/100 kilometres (36.7 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 204 g/km, exhaust standard: EU5.
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