The new BMW M550i gets a 526bhp turbo V8

BMW has announced a new car which might not make it to the United Kingdom, which would be a shame because it’s a BMW with a lot of promise. Behold, the revamped M550i xDrive saloon. Basically, a mini M5.

It packs the new M850i’s V8, which means more of everything. So where the old M550i came with 462bhp and 479lb ft from its 4.4-litre turbo V8 – yeah, we wouldn’t even get out of bed for less than 500bhp either – this new one gets a very healthy 526bhp and 553lb ft of torque. Out of bed we go.

That’s loads more power. BMW notes the “optimised crankcase” and bigger turbos nestled inside the ‘V’ of the cylinder banks, along with the all-wheel-drive set-up and “model-specific” chassis tech for point-and-squirt-ability.

Though no 0-62mph time is quoted, the old M550i did it in 4.0 seconds flat. A BMW M5 Competition – currently the punchiest 5er money can buy – does it in 3.3secs. Expect this to sit somewhere in between.

With, likely, a price tag somewhere between the M5 Comp and the 540i. Appealing, no? That V8’s a cracking engine. The new 5er is a cracking saloon. 4WD is handy. A cheaper entry point than a Proper M5 ticks a box too. What’s not to like?

Oh yeah, the fact we probably won’t get it in the UK. But other markets will, and we definitely don’t feel envious. Ugh.