BMW seems to churn out new engines like confetti and the company's 5 Series was recently upgraded with two new ones.
There was a muscle boost for the 530d's three-litre turbodiesel unit from 150kW to 160kW but the big news was the introduction of the 550i.
Featuring a V8 engine which, despite what the 550i badge says, is 4.8-litres in capacity, the car replaces the former 545i and becomes the new sub-M5 derivative in the range.
If the R850 000 M5 is a little rich for your blood then understand that the 550i costs a quarter-million bucks less and won't leave you feeling adrenalin-bereft.
It has plenty of poke with 270kW and 490Nm fired to the rear wheels through either a manual, SMG or Steptronic auto transmission. Standard, the car retails for R578 000 but we tested the Steptronic Sport that sells for R610 000.
This kind of power was the exclusive preserve of exotic sportscars just a few years ago; now it's available in family cars. The 550i reaches its electronically governed 250km/h top speed in rather a hurry and BMW says the manual version will hit 100km/h in 5.5 seconds at sea level.
That's seriously quick but it's not just the figures that impress as the car delivers very satisfying seat-of-the-pants pace. A heavy right foot will unleash a thrilling blast of forward momentum, even in the auto version.
Just sit back, enjoy the g-forces, and think of the nearly 250 grand you saved by not buying the M5. Just don't ever dice an M5 at the traffic lights and you'll feel good about life
The 550i isn't as overtly sporty and flamboyant as its 373kW/520Nm squadron leader and not just because it is less powerful. Its V8 isn't as vocally entertaining as the M5's charismatic V10, which has a holler that will strip the spikes off a Rottweiler's collar. The 550i makes a more polite, low-pitched rumble.
What you have in the 550i is a terrific grand cruiser, gunning along in smooth, sophisticated silence while it makes a blur of the rapidly passing scenery.
The Steptronic gearbox is one of the best self-shifters in the business. It's smooth and slick and doesn't over-enthusiastically hunt for gears and it would make even a dyed-in-the-wool manual man like me consider this two-pedalled version.
The gearbox has a sequential manual shift for those of you who prefer to take matters in hand.
The Bavarians have a way of making their cars feel lighter than they really are. Though it weighs a hefty 1660 kg the 550i doesn't come across all cumbersome or wallowy. There's a quickness in its steering and throttle response and a taut feel to its suspension that gives it very impressive cornering. It's not an old man's car.
'Active steering' standard
Consumption from the V8 is claimed to be 11.1 litres/100km in the urban cycle though our test car's onboard computer showed it was more greedy 16.7.
"Active steering" comes standard in the 550i. Compared to a conventional car, which has about three turns of the steering wheel lock to lock, this system uses a planetary gear driven by an electric motor to continuously vary the ratio from about 1.7 turns to a theoretical five.
You get the best of both worlds: quick, direct steering with plenty of feel when you're doing a Kimi Raikkonen through a curvy road but a relaxed, non-twitchy action for better directional stability while cruising.
The 550i's ride is firmer than the class average due to the sports suspension and the harder sidewalls of the run-flat tyres. I think the safety benefit of being able to drive on a punctured tyre without the car losing control probably outweighs the nuances of ride quality. It's a stiffer ride but not uncomfortably so.
Awakening the V8 into a smooth, silent idle is now performed by pressing a button instead of twisting a key, a new feature in the 5 Series. The boot now opens electrically from the driver's seat at the touch of a button.
Stand-by' brakes
The Beemer's ABS-assisted brakes are powerful and stop the car with intent; and there's a lot of behind-the-scenes technology ensuring all-weather braking performance.
A "stand-by" brake function rests the brake pads on the discs if the driver suddenly takes his foot off the throttle, thus shortening the stopping distance in an emergency. When it's wet the "dry braking" function uses the pads to skim water off the discs so that the brakes are dry when they're needed.
Then there's "trailer stablity control" - that's self-explanatory.
As a veritable palace-on-wheels, the 550i comes with all the luxury and trimmings. Its spacious cabin comfortably accommodates four tall adults in the plush setting of leather and has a wood-panelled fascia. All very opulent, if a little conservative.
There's a raft of gadgets, many of them combined into the iDrive, mouse-type controller between the front seats. iDrive, combined with a graphic display on the fascia, is fairly simple to use though one thing that should have a separate control is the ventilation system's direction of air travel - it's one thing you tend to adjust quite often and it's a pain having to go through the iDrive menu to do so.
The 550i is packed with standard gizmos, including cruise control, power front seats and a high-end, six-CD sound system with speakers that really pump.
Auto high-beam
There's a raft more options if you can afford them: satellite navigation, voice control, TV, body-roll control, parking distance sensors. Our test car was equipped with the optional "head-up" display that projects the car's speed and rpm on to the windscreen in. Quite fun if you want to play at being Tom Cruise in "Top Gun" but a rather pricey toy at R12 000.
The boot is spacious but oddments space in the cabin is woefully inadequate. There's a front centre armrest but it's occupied by the phone and the only place to stash your odds and ends is in the ashtray or let them slide around in the door pockets.
Automatic activation high beam is another new feature. Seems like a superfluous feature but research in the US shows drivers there tend not to use high beam - even when it's needed. - Star Motoring