2012 BMW M550d xDrive
Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Europe, Technology, BMW, First Drives, Diesel, Luxury
Adding Oil To The Mixture Of M Performance
Having recently spent a day driving through Portugal in the well-executed but slightly less than inspiring BMW ActiveHybrid 5, we've now plunked our rumps into a very separate yet parallel 5 Series dimension. It's called the M550d xDrive, and instead of Spanish hill country, we find ourselves driving over a heady combo of no-limit autobahn and essentially unmonitored idyllic two-lane Bavarian country roads. As luck would have it, the view ahead is sunny and dry.
As with any diesel phenom, the story here is not in the horsepower, which nonetheless rests at 376 between 4,000 and 4,400 rpm. You have to look at the torque curve: 546 pound-feet pounding a high-speed freight train tune between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm. That twist joins hands with that rising horsepower curve and spirals (in hugely inspiring fashion) up to a scorching rendezvous at 4,500-4,600 rpm. After which point, the two forces share a smoke, rest up, maybe chat a little to kill time while the sweat dries, and then have at it again. And again. And again. Like any active and happy young couple should do.Continue reading 2012 BMW M550d xDrive
2012 BMW M550d xDrive originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Adding Oil To The Mixture Of M Performance
Having recently spent a day driving through Portugal in the well-executed but slightly less than inspiring BMW ActiveHybrid 5, we've now plunked our rumps into a very separate yet parallel 5 Series dimension. It's called the M550d xDrive, and instead of Spanish hill country, we find ourselves driving over a heady combo of no-limit autobahn and essentially unmonitored idyllic two-lane Bavarian country roads. As luck would have it, the view ahead is sunny and dry.
As with any diesel phenom, the story here is not in the horsepower, which nonetheless rests at 376 between 4,000 and 4,400 rpm. You have to look at the torque curve: 546 pound-feet pounding a high-speed freight train tune between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm. That twist joins hands with that rising horsepower curve and spirals (in hugely inspiring fashion) up to a scorching rendezvous at 4,500-4,600 rpm. After which point, the two forces share a smoke, rest up, maybe chat a little to kill time while the sweat dries, and then have at it again. And again. And again. Like any active and happy young couple should do.Continue reading 2012 BMW M550d xDrive
2012 BMW M550d xDrive originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
More...
