BMW to Bring Euro Diesel to U.S., America Says ‘Thank You’
After years of reading rave reviews of German oil-burners that just weren’t available here in the states, diesel fans from New York to Californ-i-a are in for quite a treat from BMW.
The German automaker is bringing its 3.0-liter sequentially turbocharged diesel engine, on a wave of glorious torque, to eagerly awaiting fans in the US.
(Click on the jump to read more about BMW’s dual-charged diesel engine.)
The new for us diesel is rated at nearly the same horsepower as the 3.0-liter gas engine currently on offer in the US (286 for the diesel and 300 for the gasser), but the dual-charged diesel also manages an ungodly 427 pound-feet of twisting power. That’s a full Honda more than the 300 pound-feet the current gas engine can muster. Couple the added shove with the fact that the diesel is able to manage an impressive 35 mpg on the combined cycle and you might start to smell a winner.
Though BMW isn’t saying which models will get the new mill, sources point to the 3 and 5-series as the most likely candidates for the engine's arrival in 2008.
Raise you hand if a diesel driven 3-Series is right up your alley, or tell us why not in ‘comments’.
+ Jalopnik: BMW To Sell Dual-Turbo Diesel(s) In North America
Comments
Steve
::raises hand::
dante
Yes! And somebody crash one so I can put this into a high-geared 1400 lbs car.
Matteo
I have had the luxury of living in Europe for the past 5 years or so... It never made any sense to me as to why the big European manufacturers didn't make the diesel engine an option (at least for those not living in California).
Love the pic of a Milanese license plate on that car! (Though if that car drove in Milano it should have a dent or scratch or something)
Ducati Minor
I saw a new Jetta TDI on the I-405 going north. I was surprised to see one in the Southland. I wonder if a person had his diesel filled with B100 bio-diesel and had it smogged, what would be the result? Mercedes's BLUETEC diesels are fifty-state certified--the only ones on sale. Consumer Reports tested the E320 BLUETEC and compared it with a Lexus GS450h. CR preferred the Benz for its 27 mpg average versus the Lexus's 23 (I've usually seen 26 for the Lexus), but there was note of the further weight imbalance to the front of the Benz and the considerable weight gain from the diesel powerplant over the base petrol powertrain. (There was also the Lexus easily outperforming it.) CR also listed the price average for a gallon of premium unleaded gasoline as 10¢ more than a gallon of diesel fuel. I've usually seen diesel being more expensive, on average, than premium-octane petrol here in California and in the Southeast.
Bimmer Paul
It would be nice to also see this motor in the X3/X5. I guess we'll have to wait an extra year for that.
Douglas
The 535D and 335D are overkill. What we need is the 320D; it gets a bizilion miles per gallon and is fun with the manual transmission. Then we need the 530D which is plenty fast, available with manual trans and auto and still gets very good fuel mileage. The 3 liter twin turbo diesel is just plain silly and the fuel mileage is good but not great.
BTW, last month I drove a 530D wagon for 2 weeks in Germany. The car is awsome, 240 KM/h flat out for mile after mile and it is awsome. As was crusiin over the Alps to Italy and back, and driving from Munich to Paris on a single tank of fuel. Amazing car!
dybs02
let's hope the new 1 series gets diesel! 427 lbs-ft of torque in that baby would be amazing. drift city!
C4
AWESOME, I have been waiting for this since I learned of Europes awesome Diesel numbers. I first heard of this diesel technology from the A-class sized concept Mercedes (they nicknaed it after some sort of fish because of its very narrow body) I read that it acheived nearly 80 miles per gallon. I think that diesel is the only short term alternative, but lets get some Hydrogen pumps!
Rip
I lived in Europe for 7 yrs and always owned a diesel - can't wait to see them arrive here.
fantasyfreddy
How about a Straight Vegetable Oil option: that would be awesome! And then we just have to legalize hemp!!
Also, they should just drop the gas models totally, and just put diesels in everything they make!! Diesel is a performance and economy option, all in one!!
Adam
Can't wait to see this. Should be quite an improvement over BMW's last effort on diesels in the US (the 524td), which got to 60mph in 13 minutes,er,seconds.
It'll also be interesting to see what kind of passing power it has at high speeds- in my mom's '95 MB E300 diesel, passing someone on the highway, going uphill, is impossible. At least she gets 40mpg...
Mena
Adam, didn't you read the article? It has 286hp and 427 lb-ft torque. Theoretically, it should be much quicker than a 335i!!
bmwloco
VW is going to have more people friendly (read more affordable) TDI models available in the spring of '08.
35% of the Jetta sedans will be TDI, 50% of the Jetta Sportwagen. 140hp, 235 foot pounds of torque. Mind you, that torque is more than the current GTI.
As such, you'll see leather wrapped steering wheel and GTI suspension and wheels.
This ain't gonna be your daddy's old smoking diesel.
GObber
all that torque is at low rpms thats why they can't pass very well. but I say bring on the diesels anyway.
Mena
"all that torque is at low rpms thats why they can’t pass very well. but I say bring on the diesels anyway." And the car is geared to take advantage of the powerband. 417 lb-ft of torque is a lot and translates to a fast car.
Winding Road » Archive » Hybrid Vs. Diesel: A Luxury Sedan S
[...] Considering the tests were run at such high speeds, we’re not ready to call the Lexus a pretender yet, but with German diesels headed to the states in ever-increasing numbers, is the case for a big hybrid getting harder to make? [...]
Eleventeen
I think I'd rather have the SportWagen. We had been looking at a 06 Jetta TDI but decided to wait because we'd rather have the extra space a wagon provides.
Not that I wouldn't want 400 some odd torques, just that I don't necessarily need them in a daily driver.
Winding Road » Archive » BMW Isn’t Interested in HCCI Engine
[...] (Click through to find out why BMW doesn’t think HCCI is the answer to emissions and fuel economy improvements.) According to an interview with AutoWeek.nl, BMW believes diesels offer potential for improving emissions and fuel economy. With BMW’s introduction of diesel engines to the U.S. market looming on the horizon, we’re not surprised by this decision. The dual-turbo diesels offer very impressive power and economy levels without giving up any fun. Plus they are already proven engines. Developing a totally new engine type would be very expensive, especially if it failed. [...]
HJTravels
Listen BMW, I want to get a 135 asap. I'd prefer a 135d. If anything will tell the usa that diesels are sports cars it will be a 135d.
CrazyDUC Rider
Would love a 3 Wagon w/ TDI
Tim
I drove a 320d for several years in Europe. My friends back there have x3 diesel, 525d diesel, 120d, they all love 'm. I remember driving from Brussels to the South of France on one tank, getting 45 mpg while on cruise control at 87 mph in sixth gear.
Since a decade orso the vast majority of the Beamers sold in Germany are diesels.
They even have a 330d coupe and convertable in Europe, that's how convinced they are that this is an engine fit for a sportscar.
What someone said about the torque being only at low rpm's that's not true, they have about 90% of their torque available between 2500 and 5000 rpm so you can easily take over up hill and go past that second car too!
DaveC
Douglas and Tim are right - most Euro BMWs have the 2 liter diesel for obvious reasons.
But speaking of BMW diesels, send us the the Mini diesel! The new Mini version (with Peugot diesel?) is supposed to get 61 mpg!
greg
looking forward to it!!!! now if someone could get the gas companies to stop screwing us life would be great
Dan
It's about time to bring some good diesel cars to the US. I think Audi is also planning to bring a diesel engine to the US soon. Can't wait to get either a BMW or Audi diesel car.
Mike
Had a BMW 320d while in England. I would buy another in a minute. I will buy this BMW (would prefer it in a 5 series) and pass everything on the road including fuel stops. Finally.............
Rick Robins
Being in the solar electric system business, a 330d Touring running on biodiesel would let me have my jollies and still maintain the right appearances. I've held off replacing my E36 325i hoping for that.
chris
any idea when you'll actually be able to buy one of these??
Bruce in Canada
We're waiting here, too.
Leased my current BMW (2007 X3) for only 3 years in hopes of getting a diesel version (or wagon) in 2010.
Post new comment