BMW M550d xDrive to get three stage turbo

More details are starting to emerge of the BMW M5 diesel – the BMW M550d xDrive – which will arrive at Geneva in Spring 2012.

Earlier this week we revealed that the long-expected BMW M550d xDrive was ready to rock and we could expect it to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in Spring 2012.

The M550d xDrive is the so-called ‘Triple-Turbo’ diesel engine we’ve been expecting from BMW for the last couple of years.

With 380bhp and a mountain of torque – 520lb/ft or more – we’d expected BMW to fit the engine to the X5 and X6 to create a diesel version of the M cars. Which is still highly likely.

But we do know that the first car to get this engine will be the 5 Series in the guise of the BMW M550d xDrive. Which in BMW badge-speak means a car that’s a bit less than an actual M car and with four wheel drive.

The four wheel drive is going to be needed to tame all the torque on offer; without it the M550d would be a real pig on the road – a bit like the big Mercedes S65.

Now we’ve already had the confirmation that we’re to get the M550d, more details are starting to emerge.

BMW are describing the new diesel engine as a ‘Three Stage Turbo’, which is a bit different to ‘Triple-Turbo’. It would appear that the new engine will actually get the regular twin-turbos of the N57 engine, but with three stage operation instead of the additional turbo we’d expected.

BMW are referring to the engine as the ‘Super N57’ and have confirmed the power and torque figures we quote.

What we also know is that the ‘M550d xDrive’ moniker is also right and that it will come with the M Sport Package as standard with 19″ alloys and twin rectangular tail pipes.

Interestingly, BMW refer to the M550d as having ‘BluePerformance’.

We think they mean the BMW M550d xDrive is a car where you can have your cake and eat it.

Source: Autoblog.nl