BMW M5 Diesel Confirmed - the BMW M550d, perhaps?

A diesel M5 - the BMW M550d, perhaps?

BMW appears to have confirmed that there will be a diesel ‘M’ car, an M5 diesel with the new 3.0-litre straight-six diesel with triple-turbos.

We’ve been reporting on BMW’s triple-turbo diesel engine since we broke the news back in 2009 that BMW could be working on a triple turbo option for their 3.0 litre diesel, designed to create an ‘M Diesel’. And it now looks as though that will arrive as the BMW M550d – or a variation on that name – as soon as 2012.

We’ve opted for BMW 550d as a likely badge for the diesel M5 only because historically cars BMW consider ‘Not Quite’ an ‘M’ have had the ‘M’ upfront. Cars like the M535i, for example.

Although with BMW’s current penchant for almost unintelligible monikers on their cars we should perhaps expect the diesel M5 to be the BMW 550dM or, more likely as it will be 4WD, the BMW 550dXM.

We had thought BMW were ready to bring the triple-turbo to matket in the X5, but if The Detroit Bureau – who have been talking to BMW man Brian Watts – are right, then it will arrive as 5-Series instead. which sounds good to us.

It sounds good because in the real world, where there are bills to be paid, it’s good to have the option to get proper economy out of a car when you’re not in the mood to play. And that is exactly what the M550d could offer.

With a likely 500bhp from the triple-turbo 3.0 litre straight six, we will probably see sub-5 second 0-60mph times. Especially as there will be something like 650lb/ft of torque to play with too.

Which is why the M550d will only come with 4WD – and one of the reasons we thought this engine would turn up first in the X5 – as it’s probably the only way to get traction.

But when you don’t want to play – cruising on a motorway, stuck in traffic or just not in the mood – gentle driving should yield 40+ mpg. Which sounds like a motoring recipe for having your cake and eating it.

Look out for the BMW 550dxM at Geneva in the Spring.