Powered by a TwinPower Turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine with 456 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and peak torque of 480 pound-feet starting at just 1,800 rpm, BMW says the M550i xDrive is the quickest 5 Series ever made. Indeed, the model’s 0-60 time of “under four seconds” means it’s quicker than the previous-generation M5. All that power is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. A rear-biased torque distribution ought to make the M550i pretty fun to drive, too. It sits 10 millimeters lower than other 5 Series models, and the various electronic suspension settings are tuned by the experts at BMW’s M division.
If overt power isn’t your thing, the BMW 530e iPerformance may be more your speed. It’s a plug-in hybrid powered by an electric motor with 95 hp and 184 lb-ft, paired up with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 180 hp and 215 lb-ft. Combined, the vehicle’s 248 ponies and 310 lb-ft are enough to push this 5 Series to 60 in 6.1 seconds. The liquid-cooled, 9.2 kWh, lithium ion battery pack is positioned so that it doesn’t take up any trunk space. xDrive all-wheel-drive is optional.
Both of these new 5 Series models will go on sale in the spring of 2017. Pricing and efficiency figures have yet to be announced.
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