BMW has already confirmed that it will launch a new family of M Performance Automobiles at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, and now a new report has given us an idea of what to expect from those M-badged vehicles.
According to Germany’s Auto Zeitung, BMW will first expand its M brand with a diesel-powered version its mid-sized 5-Series. Set to be available in sedan and wagon configurations, the new model will be the first diesel-powered vehicle to ever wear BMW’s M badge.
Although the diesel M5 — which is expected to wear the xDrive M550d nameplate in production — will be slightly softer than its gas-powered sibling, the car will still arrive with an impressive 376 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque, courtesy of a 3.0L inline-six huffing through three turbochargers. And, as you might have guessed from its name, the car will also arrive with all-wheel drive.
And while the gas version of the M5 may have the advantage in performance, it can’t hold a candle to the diesel’s efficiency. The M5 diesel is expected to return about 37mpg on the combined European cycle, compared to 24mpg for the standard car.
BMW will reportedly follow the M5 diesel with oil-burning versions of its X5 M and X6 M SUV models, but it remains to be seen if any of those models will ever make it to U.S. showrooms.
References
1.’BMW M discovered…’ view
