The BMW M550i is a Rolls-Royce with the heart of a Ferrari

Frédéric Mercier

Saturday, 26 August, 2017 08:22

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Saturday, 26 August, 2017 08:22

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Too often, when it comes time to choose a prestige car, it is necessary to face a dilemma. The luxury or the performance.

The luxury is tempting, must admit. The journey between the office and home, it is not a lot less back-breaking when one passes it to the edge of a car with adjustable seats of 120 in different ways, and a sound system worthy of a home theater, and soundproofing is almost perfect.

Except that many motorists want something more than that. They want the adrenaline. The feeling of freedom that a car can provide. Because when one is ready to shell out$ 80,000 for a car, you want more than go from point A to point B.

And why not mix the two?

BMW M550i xDrive 2018

Frédéric Mercier

The luxury that moves

Let’s not be fooled, the BMW M550i is far from being the first car to attempt to combine luxury and performance. For decades, numbers of builders are given the challenge, and it has given birth to many masterpieces.

Except that the work done by BMW with the M550i deserves to be highlighted. Because under these lines rather sober conceals a vehicle particularly remarkable. One of my surprises of 2017, even.

The M550i, it is currently the most powerful of the family of the new generation of the 5 Series BMW. Things will change, however, soon with the advent of the new M5, unveiled this summer. Except that, for the moment, it is the M550i that holds the fort.

Apart from a few badges emblazoned with the iconic M, this BMW of close to 90 000$ with which I have been given a week’s time there was visually nothing really exceptional. To Mr. and Mrs. everyone, this is a BM as another. Nothing to turn heads. Except that, for the real, for those who really know, this is far from a car ordinary.

Under its hood hums a block eight-cylinder biturbo 4.4-liter engine which has already proven itself at the BMW, especially with the older generation of the M5.

BMW M550i xDrive 2018

Frédéric Mercier

Coupled to a ZF transmission with eight reports and the famous wheel to the full xDrive, this engine allows the M550i to pass 0 to 100 km/h in 4 short seconds, making at the same time the BMW 5 Series, the fastest ever built. She even managed to beat the old M5. The reign, however, will be of short duration; the M5 2018 promises even more adrenaline with its 600 horses.

Read also: The new BMW M5 is a bomb of 600 horses

A lounge on four wheels

You will have understood it, the BMW M550i moved. Not nearly so. And with a look as discreet, this is the sleeper par excellence.

When you take a seat on the board, it is, however, another element that strikes the eye. The comfort of the vehicle. It exudes luxury, good taste.

BMW M550i xDrive 2018

Frédéric Mercier

The M550i was beautiful to be overly powerful, but it won’t let him look like the M5. Instead, it leaves all the room for comfort, prestige. So that in driving mode normal, we are completely under the impression of moving in a living room.

The seats are a support copy, the quality of the materials is in all things near flawless and the huge screen that dominates the centre console is clear and almost surreal.

BMW M550i xDrive 2018

Frédéric Mercier

The only downside, the infotainment system iDrive remains complex to use. It too often your eyes off the road to perform simple commands such as changing the position of the radio. It is already better than it was a few years ago, but there is still a way to simplify the recipe.

An invoice salt, but…

Obviously, putting the hand on a car of this calibre does not happen at any price. And for the M550i, it rises to at least 80 900$. The version we tested, equipped with all Premium and some systems of driving assistance, was to pass the bill to 89 650$.

Yes, it is expensive. And not for all scholarships, there is a consensus on it. Except that a small look at what happens in the competition allows you to put all of this in perspective. An Audi S6, for example, costs more than$ 90,000, without any option, with a power lower than that of the BMW. The Mercedes-AMG E 43, despite a performance well below that of the M550i, the cost is approximately the same thing.

In short, in the world of luxury sedans to the trends in sports, the M550i is a serious candidate for the podium.

Unless you’d prefer to wait for the new M5, of course…

BMW M550i xDrive 2018

Frédéric Mercier

Technical data sheet

Name: BMW M550i xDrive 2018
Base price: 80 900$
Price of model tested: 89 650$
Configuration : four-wheel drive Vehicle with engine at the front
Basic mechanics: twin-turbo V8 4.4-liter
Transmission: eight-speed Automatic
Power/torque: 455 hp/ 480 lb-ft
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 4 seconds
Maximum speed: 210 km/h
Fuel consumption: Still unknown
Competition: Audi S6, Mercedes-AMG E 43, Lexus GS F