BMW M diesels confirmed

By Jack Rix

13th January 2012

BMW is stretching the appeal of its performance models with a new M car sub-brand, called BMW M Performance Automobiles. It's seperate from pure M models such as the M5 and M3 and the new range of M-badged cars will include diesels for the first time.

Friedrich Nitschke, BMW M chief, has been widely reported as saying the new range will encompass “a wide variety of model series, as well as both petrol and diesel-engined variants.” But the only cars confirmed so far are a pair of high-performance diesels.

The first is the four-wheel drive M550d xDrive. Under the bonnet it will use a 376bhp six-cylinder diesel engine with a mammoth 740Nm of torque, but it will still be capable of returning around 45mpg. The X6 crossover will also follow suit with an M50d version using the same engine.

BMW will unveil the new line-up at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and we'll be bringing you all the details live from the show floor.