With a new 5-series upon us, BMW has not only seen fit to add an acre-foot to the stalwart executive sports machine’s sea of alphanumerics but also tooffer up another addition to the company’s not-quite-M portfolio. Until the next M5 arrives, the M550i xDrive stands as the 5’s range-topping machine. Boasting a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 making 456 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque, the M550i slots in, power-wise, between the vaunted E39 M5’s naturally aspirated V-8 and the E60’s nutty V-10. It is, however, 104 horsepower south of the outgoing M5, leaving plenty of room for the next ultimate 5 to zonk us with relentless units of excess motive force.
Because it’s a car designed for normals who want a really nice, sporty sedan that will get them to the office during inclement weather, the M550i xDrive features an all-wheel-drive system. One might think that makes it a bit more akin to Alpina’s B6 xDrive Gran Coupe, which some of us found to be the finest 5/6 derivative of the F06/F10 generation of cars. BMW claims a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.0 seconds for the M550i, 0.3 second off the Alpina’s pace. Like the B6, the M550i eschews BMW’s M-oriented dual-clutch transmission in favor of a paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic. Rumors strongly suggest the next M5 will feature all-wheel drive, at which point we imagine Alpina will annex Bottrop and steal all its torque.
The rear-biased AWD system spins standard 19-inch M wheels finished in matte Cerium Grey metallic, or optional 20s in the same color. The dark finish, presumably, was chosen at least in part to show off the signature blue brake calipers. In any case, with either wheel choice, the Adaptive M Sport suspension drops the body 0.39 inch closer to the ground.
Outside, the M550i gets a decklid spoiler, while the mirror caps, the grille frame, the fender vents, and the M Performance front intake accents all get a coat of Cerium Grey paint. Out back, a sport exhaust finished in black chrome whisks the spent gases away from you and directs them toward the unlucky hoser you just blew past. The doorsills feature illuminated “M550i xDrive” type, because lighted branding is what modern luxury is all about. Inside, the seats are upholstered in black Dakota leather—with nappa hide as an option—and there’s an M steering wheel, M floor mats, and aluminum pedals.
Like other any other new 5, the M550i xDrive is available with a full suite of driver aids and connectivity solutions. Long since past are the days when adding what the Germans call “sportivity” meant giving up convenience, after all. One convenience BMW can’t offer at the moment is the M550i xDrive’s price, which will be released closer to the car’s spring 2017 launch.
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