Other side of the sensible power equation? Jam the throttle out of a light, and the 550i glides a few feet off the line before a giant burst of twin-turbocharged momentum blasts speeds skywards. Passing power reserves let drivers fling the 550i past 18-wheelers almost as quickly as they can drop their right foot, too.
Keep an eye on that speedometer, or you’ll accidentally overshoot your intended velocity by a few dozen clicks. In the process, the powerplant never feels like its even thinking about breaking a sweat, and the paddle-shifted manual-mode gearchanges are instant, perfectly blipped and virtually imperceptible.
Almost perfect
Complaints of the tester were minimal-- as they should be in a vehicle with pricing approaching the $90,000 mark. The rear-end can feel trampy when accelerating hard over rougher surfaces, and the whine from the transmission’s first gear at full throttle is notably audible. Enthusiasts will wish for some semblance of an exhaust note, too.
Ninety grand? Yes-- but at the end of the day, you couldn’t really ask for a better chassis, interior or powertrain. Folks willing to pay top dollar for what’s arguably the world’s top sports sedan should find no regrets.
Keep an eye on that speedometer, or you’ll accidentally overshoot your intended velocity by a few dozen clicks. In the process, the powerplant never feels like its even thinking about breaking a sweat, and the paddle-shifted manual-mode gearchanges are instant, perfectly blipped and virtually imperceptible.
 |
| Ninety grand? Yes-- but at the end of the day, you couldn’t really ask for a better chassis, interior or powertrain. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |
Almost perfect
Complaints of the tester were minimal-- as they should be in a vehicle with pricing approaching the $90,000 mark. The rear-end can feel trampy when accelerating hard over rougher surfaces, and the whine from the transmission’s first gear at full throttle is notably audible. Enthusiasts will wish for some semblance of an exhaust note, too.
Ninety grand? Yes-- but at the end of the day, you couldn’t really ask for a better chassis, interior or powertrain. Folks willing to pay top dollar for what’s arguably the world’s top sports sedan should find no regrets.
Article Gallery