BMW M550d, X5 M50d & X6 M50d Official

BMW M550d - it's official

As expected, the BMW M550d, BMW X5 M50d and BMW X6 M50d have been revealed as the first models in the new BMW M Division range.

After speculation going back a couple of years, BMW has finally revealed a triumvirate of mighty diesel-powered M Division cars, with the unveiling of the M550d, X5 M50d and X6 M50d, all of which will debut officially at Geneva 2012 before going on sale later this year.

First to arrive will be the X5 M50d and X6 M50d in the summer, with the M550d Saloon and M550d Estate probably not hitting the UK until close to the end of the year, but the UK won’t be getting the M550d xDrive – our cars will be RWD. Shame, but it seems the 5-Series underpinnings weren’t built to take xDrive in RHD form.

The 3.0 litre tri-turbo (yes, it turns out to be a triple turbo after all), delivers 376bhp and 545lb/ft of torque, which is a healthy enough jump over the 535d of 80bhp, and almost as much over the X5 and X6 with the same engine.

Performance figures for the trio are quite startling. The M550d is capable of 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, just a smidge behind the mighty M5 despite having 176bhp less, but that wall of torque takes up the slack. And with eco-stuff like stop-start and brake energy recuperation, the M550d returns an average 44.8mpg and emits 165g/km. The X5 M50d and X6 M50d are equally as impressive, hitting 62mph in 5.4 and 5.3 seconds respectively.

All three M Division cars have new steering ratios and tweaked chassis with more than a passing nod to M cars. They all get a butch version of BMW’s eight-speed auto ‘box and cosmetic tweaks, inside and out, that give them a level of butchness somewhere between a regular BMW and an M car.

The BMW X5 M50d will cost £60,235 and the x6 M50d £62,260 when they go on sale in the summer. BMW has yet to reveal how much the M550d Saloon and M550d Touring will cost.

(49 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

By Cars UK