Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Green, BMW
Spy Shots: BMW 6-Series diesel
Diesel engines continue to be all the rage in Europe while they're just beginning to gain ground again in the U.S. As proof that diesels aren't just considered high-mileage motors for city cars, we offer up these spy shots of the BMW 635d, a version of the 6-Series that will be rocking the automaker's twin-turbo 3.0L diesel engine. The motor in the 635d should produce about 286 hp and 428 ft-lbs. of torque. Motor Authority expects a 0-60 time of about six seconds combined with what will likely be the best fuel consumption of any 6-Series model. These spy shots show a slightly updated 6-Series model with a revised front bumper, but we know there's a diesel underhood because the spy photographer managed to get a pic of the car's gauges, which show the word "diesel" above the fuel gauge.
Along with the TT 3.0L diesel, the 6-Series is also expected to replace the 630i's engine with the award-winning twin-turbo 3.0L inline six from the the 3-Series. While we may see the new 635i in the U.S. soon enough (currently only the V8 650i is offered), the way things are going we don't expect the 635d to make the trip over anytime soon.
[Source: Motor Authority]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Carly 7:22PM (5/29/2007)
Diesel has been avaialble in US since January. Why wont these models come here?
The 635d is not for me. I actually want to buy a CRV. I wish I could get the 2.2 Turbo diesel CRV. 250 torque!
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Adam 7:25PM (5/29/2007)
Carly,
Have you looked at the Ford Escape? Its a good alternative to the CRV. Comes with V6 too!. Check it out. Ford makes awesome vehicles now.
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Don 4:43PM (5/30/2007)
Too bad it's underpowered and gets cruddy mileage.
Carly 7:26PM (5/29/2007)
Adam, I really like the CRV. The interior is nice and the drive is better than the 2008 Escape. The 4 cylinder which I want is way more powerful the the 4 cyl. Escape I drove. Anyways, my post is about the Diesel CRV not buying a Ford.
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Jeff 7:28PM (5/29/2007)
The diesels will come. Be patient people. 2008 will be an awesome year. At last count 11 Diesels will make their debut next year. That's great. Give me a diesel hybrid and tell me where to sign.
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rrr 7:59PM (5/29/2007)
This whole diesel seems looks too cheesy to me.
The question one has to ask is howcome these engines weren't WIDELY offered in USA before. People cared about MPG before...people cared about tourq too, and yet it is NOW they are coming here. Also with this GLUT of diesels how much will it cost per gallon, it already costs more than gasoline. Plus they have a poor image, plus Bush will not be the President for long now, and the next president will do a lot for environment.
Todate the best way to make good, reliable and affordable cars that still get GREAT MPG is basicaly the Honda way. Regular, non Hybrid cars like Civic or Accord or CR-V are the best way to get GREAT cars, good HP and good MPG.
Also i have a feeling that average American will not be driving diesels because most of the HYPE comes from luxury or semi-luxury European brands.
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paul34 8:14PM (5/29/2007)
The only reason diesel was not widely implemented here is because of the ignorance of the American people - plain and simple.
GM engineered some TERRIBLE "diesels" back in the 70s, and ever since, the people in this country think they know what diesel is all about.
Sure, diesel costs more. Sure, "emissions" are more.
But does it really matter? You're going *significantly* farther on a given gallon of diesel than quite frankly, you ever will on a comparable gasoline engine.
Plus, why in the world do you need hundreds of horsepower on the American stop-and-go traffic situation? What you need is plenty of low-end torque so that you can do all those 10-40 MPH runs.
Also, with the way people in this country seem to like their cars (big, heavy, and wasteful), more torque and efficiency via a diesel would be useful rather than putting a gigantic gasoline engine in there.
Europeans have been driving cars for many years now which possess superior interior and exterior build quality, superior handling abilities, are quick, and get 40 MPG on a BAD day. And here we are living in a nation where 26 MPG gets looks of awe on people's faces - "wow that's so good!" Actually, no, its not.
simon 7:18AM (5/30/2007)
They haven't been popular before because they suffered bad image problems in the 70s. Also the diesel fuel in the US had too much sulfur content which makes it very dirty but that too has since changed. The new diesels coming to the US have to meet extremely stringent rules so they don't not only do not spew out much particulate, diesels don't spew out much green-house gas anyway.
Also, galon for gallon, a diesel will take you +30% further than gas so you're still saving even if per gallon price is the same.
Last but not least, it's really fun driving modern diesels because they have such great torque. It's only a matter of time before people start driving more diesels.
Will 8:38AM (5/30/2007)
Hey guys, the argument that diesel cost more no longer works. In and around Atlanta diesel is $2.70 a gallon while regular 87 octane is $3.07.
Exciting times!
Chris 8:31PM (5/29/2007)
rrr is right when Bush comes out of power all the gasoline he has been hiding will have to surface!
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SherbornSean 9:20PM (5/29/2007)
I'm just glad to hear that BMW is bringing a diesel to the 6-series. Because whenever I spend $80K on an overweight coupe, my first thought is the mileage. Sure hope iDrive stays standard!
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Will 10:18PM (5/29/2007)
Apparently rrr forgot that Honda is going to introduce a diesel in the U.S.
Oops!
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gsolman6 10:35PM (5/29/2007)
RRR:
Some things to remember. One is that there hasn't been a 50 state legal diesel for a few years now, and in those few years gas/diesel prices have gone up considerably. Two is that diesel is actually about 16 cents cheaper (at least in my area) per gallon right now. Three is that the baby boomers with the bad memories of past diesels and outmoded ideas of what they represent are no longer the sole target of auto companies. In the decades that U.S. companies have considered diesel a dying breed, the Europeans b/c of high taxes have spurred technological advances in these types of engines. And when considering the extra benefits of biodiesel you have a great competitor to modern gasoline engines.
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Phil L. 9:06AM (5/30/2007)
I've been waiting for diesel to finally come of age in the US - but have been disappointed that upcoming offerings aren't oriented toward a broader section of the market.
Anyone know if any of the newly-arriving diesel models are:
A. Family affordable (i.e., MB E-class isn't).
B. Able to handle 3 car seats (yes, I still have 3 kids in seats right now)
The DCX split means my hopes of a Bluetec Grand Caravan are gone...
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Mulad 9:19AM (5/30/2007)
...and diesels also weren't common in the U.S. because of a combination of relatively strict emissions regulations plus the fact we had "dirtier" fuel here until late 2006. U.S. diesel had a 500 ppm limit for sulfur up until then, choking the catalytic converters in European diesels, which were accustomed to about a tenth as much sulfur. Now we're down to 15 ppm, plus European emissions regulations are starting to come in line with what we've got in the U.S. Unfortunately, there wasn't much lead time between switching to low-sulfur fuel and fresh regulations coming into effect (Jan 1 of this year), so there's only a handful of diesels available right now. Yeah, 2008 is going to be an interesting year.
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Richard 10:13AM (5/30/2007)
This car is a pig. Soft and flabby with none of the sporting character of the 850, Munich's previous executive coupe'.
In the USA the 6-er is purchased only by women - and a few men - whom - a generation ago purchased the old, GM-designed XJ-S.
Were diesel fuel priced at something that reflects the lower cost to refine it, the peri-geriatric crowd to which this pig appeals might be interested. Alas, I don't think that development is in the offing on this side of the pond...
Another BMW miss!
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MikeW 7:59PM (5/30/2007)
Now that BMW is using the second generation of ZF 6hp transmission, BMW can up this engine to 300hp@4500, 450ft-lbs@2250, and couple to the 6hp28.
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