Day: January 7, 2021

2021 BMW M550i xDrive review: All the M5 you really need

Aventurin Red is a chef’s-kiss-dot-gif color.


Steven Ewing/Roadshow

The BMW M550i xDrive is 90% of the car the M5 is, and in some ways, it’s actually better. The M550i offers strong V8 power and a long list of tech and creature comforts. What it lacks in outright track-attack ferocity it more than makes up for with greater overall balance and a much nicer ride quality. Given the choice, I’d pick the M550i as my daily driver.

Like

  • Big V8 offers big power
  • Chassis is nicely tuned for both comfort and sport
  • Plush interior with lots of amenities
  • iDrive tech is easy to use

Don’t Like

  • Numb steering feel
  • Driver-assistance options cost extra
  • Poor fuel economy

The M550i uses BMW’s twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, with 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque running through an 8-speed automatic transmission. All told, the all-wheel-drive M550i can accelerate to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, which means it’s quicker than its key rivals, the Audi S6 and Mercedes-AMG E53, both of which use more sedate six-cylinder engines. The BMW even comes with a proper launch control function, which I’m sure most people will never use.

Yes, the M5 uses a tweaked version of the

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Stimulus check arriving in 2 phases: Will your check come before or after the deadline?

It’s true, whichever payment group you’re in could affect when you get your second stimulus check.


Angela Lang/CNET

Capitol Hill may be in chaos, but as far as we know, the delivery of the second stimulus checks to tens of millions of bank accounts and mailboxes has not been impacted by the breach of President Donald Trump’s supporters into the US Capitol Building. 

The IRS and US Treasury have just over a week to complete sending out payments before a Jan. 15 deadline imposed in the stimulus bill. (You can calculate the size of your payment and here’s how to track it.) Despite quick action in releasing the payments, it’s unlikely everyone who qualifies for more stimulus money will receive it by then, especially if your second stimulus check trips over hurdles that could hold up its delivery. 

Knowing which group you’re in according to IRS sorting can help give you an idea if you’ll be among the first to get a check for up to $600 per person, or near the end of the line. (Remember, not everyone will qualify for the $600 payment.) We have more information about IRS payment groups below, and here’s

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