2012 BMW 550dx (AWD only)

[cawimmer430]

2012 BMW 550dx to be AWD torquemonster with 516 lb-ft



A BMW dealer in the Netherlands has leaked what it says is a tasty bit of information on the upcoming diesel 5 Series. According to 5post.com, the vehicle will boast a tri-turbo inline six-cylinder oil burner good for around 381 horsepower. That number is a far cry from the 500-pony speculation that had been making the rounds until recently, but that doesn't mean that the big 5 Series will be any slouch on the road. The dealer also let slip that the vehicle will arrive packing 516 pound-feet of torque, which should be more than enough for the big sedan's all-wheel drive system to rip up massive handfuls of asphalt to throw at lesser machinery.

Speaking of all-wheel drive, word has it that the 550d will only be available with all four corners turning, at least initially. Production is set to kick off in March of next year, and true to form, there's no telling whether or not the big, powerful diesel will be available to U.S. buyers. There's also some indication that this potent engine will show up in hardware like the next-generation BMW X5 and X6, though there are no fuel economy estimates to be had at this time. Presumably, a Touring variant like the one shown above will be on offer overseas, as well, making it this Bimmer a covet-worthy alternative to a premium crossover.


Link: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/22/2...ith-516-lb-ft/

[thewizard16]

Impressive. That'd be fun to play with I bet. How much are those going to cost, though?

[CJ]

This just seems ridiculous.

[MrH]

Meh. 550i makes more power

[Mustangfan2003]

Should make some pretty good burnouts with that torque, that is if it was rwd. 

[cawimmer430]

Meh. 550i makes more power

And it's soooooooooo pure to! RWD!

None of that AWD poseur shit! 

[Galaxy]

M550d xDrive.






381hp, and 740Nm (545lb/ft) at 2000rpm. Three turbochargers, two of them using variable turbine technology. Plus three intercoolers. 0-62mph is done in 4.7s. Average consumption is given at 6.3L/100km (37.3mpg US) in the combined EU cycle.


The hp could be a tad higher.

[Colonel Cadillac]

0-60 in 4.7 seconds

Pretty cool

[Galaxy]

One month later, the same engine will be released in the X5, and X6.

[cawimmer430]

Why does Europe always get the cool stuff? 

Oh wait.   

[hounddog]

Meh. 550i makes more power

But this will probably see 35+mpg.

[sportyaccordy]

Why would anyone buy this, when a x50i Bimmer will pretty much cost the same to run, along with sounding and performing much better

I am really curious about this 3 turbo setup as well. Might give some insight on the next M3

[CALL_911]

Meh, I don't find it particularly interesting in any way.

But my, if the F10 doesn't look fantastic. It's easily one of the best looking sedans on the road.

[hounddog]

Why would anyone buy this, when a x50i Bimmer will pretty much cost the same to run, along with sounding and performing much better

I am really curious about this 3 turbo setup as well. Might give some insight on the next M3

Why would a car which gets 25mpg cost the same to run as one which gets 37+mpg?  

Diesel is roughly the same as premium where I buy.

[hounddog]

Meh, I don't find it particularly interesting in any way.

But my, if the F10 doesn't look fantastic. It's easily one of the best looking sedans on the road.

Seriously?

A car which for all intents and purposes is as fast as the V8 gasser, but gets 12mpg more? 

Not interesting?  Really? 

[cawimmer430]

Why would anyone buy this, when a x50i Bimmer will pretty much cost the same to run, along with sounding and performing much better

Because you get the same performance and much better fuel economy. Some people like that. Even in this class and market there are wealthy people that care about fuel economy despite easily being capable of paying the enormous fuel bills of a 550i.

Performance diesels sound awesome by the way. They sound like an American muscle car from the '60s with a bubbling aggressive V8.

[hounddog]

"enormous" is a bit of a stretch, honestly.

[cawimmer430]

Seriously?

A car which for all intents and purposes is as fast as the V8 gasser, but gets 12mpg more? 

Not interesting?  Really? 

It's not RWD. If it was he'd be drooling all over it. 

[cawimmer430]

"enormous" is a bit of a stretch, honestly.

From a European perspective.

[hounddog]

It's not RWD. If it was he'd be drooling all over it.  

We have AWD 550s here.

[cawimmer430]

We have AWD 550s here.

I'm sure those are "not impressive" either.

Now if they were RWD...

[Galaxy]

It has more torque at idle then a 535 has at it's peak. 

[cawimmer430]

It has more torque at idle then a 535 has at it's peak. 

I am not impressed...

[Laconian]

WOW!

[cawimmer430]

WOW!

Someone's impressed!

[GoCougs]

Meh, I don't find it particularly interesting in any way.

But my, if the F10 doesn't look fantastic. It's easily one of the best looking sedans on the road.

Bingo.

Plus, if you're spending $70k+ on a sports sedan, by definition you don't (or shouldn't) care about fuel economy (and as we all know, at least in the US, the cost premium for a diesel engine usually has a very long if not indeterminate payback period). And why invite the throttle lag, racket, and mess?

[68_427]

If I had $70K I'd buy one of these.*

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/2012-jaguar-xf-supercharged-review/


*After a CTS-V, but that's sort of different than these cars.

[Cookie Monster]

Will the M550d come with a stick at least?

[68_427]

Will the M550d come with a stick at least?

The M5 doesn't even come with a stick across the pond.

[Galaxy]

Bingo.

Plus, if you're spending $70k+ on a sports sedan, by definition you don't (or shouldn't) care about fuel economy (and as we all know, at least in the US, the cost premium for a diesel engine usually has a very long if not indeterminate payback period). And why invite the throttle lag, racket, and mess?

The diesel will pull from idle, lag should hardly be noticeable, I doubt that the majority of people could distinguish a modern diesel from a gasser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh6o5BvQsko&feature=related

It sounds a bit different, but is not noisier then the gasser.

If you don't the smell of diesel fuel, you can buy the synthetic premium diesels (for example Shell V Power diesel), the fuel is clear as water, and does not even smell like diesel.