SA's refreshed BMW 5 Series range to include 390 kW M550i xDrive!
by Ryan Bubear
BMW Group South Africa has confirmed the local facelifted 5 Series range will include the M550i xDrive variant at launch in the final quarter of 2020. M5-Lite, anyone?
The Munich-based firm’s local arm says the refreshed line-up will comprise the 520d, 530i and M550i xDrive, as well as the M5 Competition (an updated version of the latter has yet to be revealed). That suggests the current line-up’s 530d and 540i will fall away when the facelifted range is introduced towards the end of the year.
Interestingly, BMW SA furthermore confirms the local line-up will include “no hybrid models”, meaning the addition of 48 V systems to various four- and six-cylinder engines in Europe will not be implemented here (the plug-in hybrid 530e and 545e xDrive are seemingly off the table, too).
So, what do we know about the new M550i xDrive? Well, it employs the automaker’s familiar twin-turbo 4,4-litre V8 petrol engine, which sends 390 kW and 750 N.m to all four corners (the rear-biased all-wheel-drive system works with an M Sport differential) via an eight-speed automatic transmission. BMW says that’s enough for a sprint from standstill to 100 km/h in just 3,8 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
The M550i xDrive furthermore features a range of model-specific design cues, including the M Sport package, a bootlid spoiler and a "Cerium Grey" metallic finish for the side-mirror caps, grille surround, inlays in the front air intakes and model lettering.
The M Performance vehicle ships standard on 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in a Y-spoke design, while dual trapezoidal tailpipe finishers in Black Chrome provide what BMW calls a “four-branch look” round back. Adaptive M suspension and M Sport brakes (with callipers painted in either blue or red) are also part of the package.
Inside, the M550i xDrive gains “exclusive” features over and above those included in the M Sport package, such as model badges on the door-sill plates and in the instrument cluster display. In addition, the BMW Live Cockpit Professional system is fitted as standard.
See Full BMW M5 price and specs here
See Full BMW 5 Series Sedan price and specs here