BMW M Performance sub-brand shows off SAVs

Read Time:1 Minute, 53 Second

The recently promised BMW M sub-brand has arrived and it presents itself with the special half-performance SAV models to begin the showing off process with.

What we’re looking at here is typical branding and copyrighting prowess that gives hell to most average people trying to buy either of the BMW X5 or X6 SAV.

BMW M Performance X5

The new models are called the BMW X5 M50d and X6 M50d which sounds reasonably simple, until you find out the explanation of the abbreviations.

If we’re honest though, that’s just chit-chat, the real story here is just what BMW have delivered with these two new models.

Both the X5 and the X6 M50d models are powered by their newly introduced 3.0 liter inline-six common-rail tri-turbo diesel engine. That’s right, three turbochargers, anybody remember some sort of teaser?

BMW M Performance X6

That engine pushes out 381 horsepower and a meaty 545 pound feet of torque, all of which is available between 2000 and 3000 rpm. Diesel flexibility is a rare thing, particularly as you consider BMW tells us there’s no turbo lag to worry about.

The third turbocharger is the smallest one and is the star player here since it is powered electrically. Therefore it doesn’t require any revving of the engine to operate. The eight speed auto gearbox helps a lot as well.

With this mill under bonnet, the BMW X5 M50d can go from 0 to 62 in 5.4 seconds, hit an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph and still return an average fuel economy of 37.7 mpg (imperial).

The X6 M50d does that little bit better since it can complete the initial sprint in 5.3 seconds and reach the same top speed quicker. Where it falls behind a bit is with the fuel economy which drops to 36.7 mpg (imperial).

Emissions aren’t great as they stand at 199 and 204 g/km of CO2. Pricing for each of the models is yet to be announced but it should fall between top end diesel versions and the high end X5M and X6M models.