Mark the date in your diary: January 26 is the day that hell froze over as BMW released the first official details of its first diesel powered M-car.
The BMW M550d will act as the figurehead for the newly created M-Performance sub-brand and while purists will undoubtedly be aghast there is no arguing with the stunning performance figures. Available in four-door saloon and Touring estate guise the new car's tri-turbo (yes, three turbochargers) 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine churns out 381hp and 740Nm of torque. The power figure may be 180hp short of the full-fat M5's, but the M550d has 60Nm more torque and anyway, the M550d is the most powerful diesel powered car in the new line-up.
All this means the M550d can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.7 seconds (4.9 seconds for the Touring model), which is just 0.3 seconds slower than the M5 - and it has the same electronically limited 250km/h top speed. Power is delivered to the tarmac via BMW's all-wheel drive xDrive system, although some sources suggest that BMW will produce a rear-wheel drive version for some markets - Ireland included.
For all its performance the M550d is also remarkably efficient (in supercar tems) returning up to 44.8mpg (6.3 litres/100km) in the saloon while emitting 165g/km CO2. This means road tax of €481 for the saloon.
Visually the M550d gets a full bodykit, which is a little tamer than the one fitted to the M5, and gorgeous 19-inch M-badged alloy wheels. The M logo is also carried over to the interior where drivers can expect to find unique seats and steering wheel.
Prices for the M550d have yet to be confirmed but we will find out more when the range is officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March.