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2017 BMW M550i xDrive (G30) Is Quicker Than the F10 M5 to 100 KM/H

Until the F90 M5 comes along to the party, the G30 M550i xDrive will soothe the fevered brows of those in the market for an adequately quick sedan. And boy, does the all-new 2017 BMW M550i xDrive has the plenty of right stuff to brag about.
2017 BMW M550i xDrive (G30) 154 photos
Photo: BMW
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For the seventh-generation 5 Series, BMW went all out, employing every trick in the book to make the mid-size luxury sedan a commendable competitor for the Mercedes-Benz W213 E-Class. For all intents and purposes, the all-new BMW M550i xDrive is in a league of its own, at least until the not-yet-ready-for-production Mercedes-AMG E55 drops by with a force-fed straight-six (M256) expected to produce as much as 490 PS (483 horsepower).

Slated to roll into showrooms in March 2017, the BMW M550i xDrive boasts a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that develops 462 PS (456 horsepower) at 5,500 rpm and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque available from 1,800 rpm. This variant replaces the F10 5 Series in 550i and 550i xDrive forms, but there’s a catch to this change. That catch, of course, is the rear-biased AWD system, which is standard in the BMW M550i xDrive whether you like it or not.

The upside to all-paw-drive, however, is that the car can carry more speed into the corner and accelerate quicker out of it. Speaking of go-faster credentials, zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 4.0 seconds. Hence, it’s three-tenths quicker than the F10 M5 with the 8-speed auto, despite the fact the full-blooded F10 M5 has almost 100 PS and 30 Nm (22 lb-ft) more oomph.

For the time being, only the limited-run BMW M5 30 Jahre Edition is quicker than the M550i xDrive, but only by one-tenth of a second. Of course, dieting also has something to do with the M550i xDrive’s haste. In this regard, BMW managed to shed up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) by using a multi-material mix for the platform and various body panels. The trunk lid, for example, is made entirely of aluminum, bringing the weight down by 4.2 kilos (9.2 lbs).

Exclusively available with the ZF-developed Steptronic 8-speed automatic transmission, the 2017 BMW M550i xDrive drinks 8.9 liters of high-octane jungle juice per each 100 kilometers in the combined cycle (NEDC). In gallons, that’s 26.4 U.S. mpg or 31.7 imperial mpg. This fuel consumption, in turn, translates to combined CO2 emissions of 204 grams per kilometer.

If frugality is what you’re after, then the 520d EfficientDynamics Edition could be the 2017 BMW G30 5 Series for you. If, however, you want something a bit more extreme, fingers crossed the F90 M5 will blow your socks off.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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