REPORT: BMW plans to offer four-cylinder diesels in the U.S.
BMW X5 xDrive35d – Click above for high-res image gallery
To mechanics of the Seventies, the phrase "Oldmobile 350 Diesel" is enough to cause heart palpitations. For many Americans, that particular engine was their first – and most definitely last – exposure to diesel. Doomed from the start by both a lack of a water-separator (you ever try compressing water?) and the head/headbolt pattern from the Olds 350 Rocket (which expanded from the heat of the non-compressible water), few engines have done more to destroy a brand's reputation quite as thoroughly as that engine. In many ways, General Motors is still paying for that corner cutting blunder.
But man, talk about unfair! First of all, those bad old GM diesels were designed and built over thirty years ago – much has changed. Furthermore, slightly more than half of all the cars sold in Europe today are glow-plugged oil burners. And diesel owners simply love their cars. Why not? Lots of torque, fantastic mileage and no spark plugs to change, ever. But we would be mistaken not to point out that there is a section of the automotive landscape still not smitten with diesels, despite all of these advancements. Who? Driving enthusiasts, that's who. Hey, it's hard to love a 4,500 rpm redline when all you want to do is pound it at 9/10s.
BMW is looking to change all that – at least partially. According to Erin Riches at Inside Line, the brand from Bavaria plans to introduce four-cylinder diesels mit turbos to the U.S. in a few years. Says Tom Baloga, vice president of engineering for BMW North America, "This engine needs to match the acoustic qualities of a six-cylinder, and it needs to match the performance, as well as performing better in terms of fuel economy and emissions."
You can expect to see these new engines in both the truckish X3 and X5, as well as the all important bread-und-butter 3 Series and maybe even the 5 Series. All we need to hear is the middle part, because if BMW puts the new four-banger turbodiesel in the 3 Series, the motor simply has to be sporty. Them's the rules. Note: the Inside Line article never explicitly mentions turbos, but does say, "Our four-cylinder diesel will be so good that people will readily accept it as a replacement for six-cylinders. The target is to produce enough horsepower to be comparable [in performance] to our N54/N55 six-cylinder turbos." So, obviously, these new diesel fours will get paired with some sort of forced induction goodness.
Can't wait? BMW already offers the stonking 335d in U.S. dealers right now.
Gallery: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
iCameiSawiConquered 4:41PM (11/11/2009)
why the hell not?
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zamafir 5:43PM (11/11/2009)
i dunno, audi's been doing it for a few months, vw's been doing it for decades... yet Johnny boy opens this piece like four banger tdi's are new and startling, all the while vw's selling more of them than BMW is minis. sigh. gotta keep that nostalgia going I guess.
LesPaul1 9:30PM (11/11/2009)
zamafir, stop hating.. it's great news! we can all look forward to a diesel alternative to vdub or audi.
falcotysonpunch 4:40PM (11/11/2009)
Build us a turbo diesel electric hybrid BMW.
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RMN 4:42PM (11/11/2009)
More than half of European cars are diesels... wow
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Swede 5:10PM (11/11/2009)
More than half (according to Eurostat, 54%) of new cars are diesel powered yes. Petrol cars are still more numerous in most european countries, while in others like Austria and Belgium the split is nearly 50/50. Diesel fuel make up the bulk of the petroleum products sold though since making a truck, van or pickup that runs on petrol would be stupid.
zamafir 5:45PM (11/11/2009)
half? who cares. it's bmw. the more relevant statistic relates to luxury cars, three quarters. And it's been that way for a while.
Given how much of VW and Audi’s sales within models with diesel options are diesel sales, I don’t see bmw or any luxury brand with the know how having any issue moving significat portions of them relevant to their overall sales.
Bobmarley 4:42PM (11/11/2009)
I'm gonna have to get a custom "i believe" plate if this is true!
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Paul P. 4:43PM (11/11/2009)
Sounds good to me!
Luxury import vehicles is one area where diesels can really start to pay off; since most of them recommend premium fuel (which is often more expensive than diesel before any mileage benefits are factored in).
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HotRodzNKustoms 4:51PM (11/11/2009)
In my world, diesel used to be cheaper but more often than not has become more expensive than premium. Why? Probably an attempt by the oil companies to stop the adaptation of diesels in the US. It works.
Paul P. 4:58PM (11/11/2009)
Not sure where you live, but at present the national averages say diesel is cheaper than premium. Where I am, the pump prices reflect that. Diesel is right around the same as mid-grade, which is shocking since usually diesel goes way up in the winter.
HotRodzNKustoms 5:12PM (11/11/2009)
I am in a place where we wear parkas if it goes below 65. In the past few months after the collapse in oil prices diesel did get cheaper than regular again for a while but while oil was skyrocketing diesel had a $0.10 $0.20 premium over premium (I paid as much as $0.30 more than premium, diesel being @ $5.56 a gallon), and it looks like it is going that way again. In my area diesel is about par with premium sometimes less at the moment.
ckm 5:25PM (11/11/2009)
I agree. Diesel here in California is around 40 cents more than gas. Probably explains why Priuses are hugely popular and VW TDi's can't get the time of day (even if they are constantly sold out, they are just not driving around as much as Priusii).
zamafir 5:48PM (11/11/2009)
@ckm - where the heck are ya'? here in SD it's cheapest.
Andrew T 6:46PM (11/11/2009)
Diesel is less then reg in Florida ATM. It occasionally gets to around the price of mid grade, and when gas was +4$, Diesel was more expensive.
H3llb3nt 10:00AM (11/12/2009)
What about the 1 series??? I want a 120d hatch!!!
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MajorGeek 4:59PM (11/11/2009)
Someone has to start the trend and stick with it, too bad most Americans don't like the idea. Having a lot of diesel engines out there will do more good then any cash for clunkers program. Clean diesel, good gas mileage, long living engines. Win, win, win.
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JimBob 5:13PM (11/11/2009)
You do a lot of pounding it at 9/10 driving that X5, huh?
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Hazdaz 5:20PM (11/11/2009)
So BMW is now going to offer up diesels and guess what... STILL NO ONE IS GOING TO BUY THEM
I am sooo sick and tired of people - almost always on the internets - begging and pleading with car companies to come out with diesel versions, and yet when a company does finally give them what they want, these same people still won't buy them.
I am no diesel-hater, and I think that all SUVs/trucks should have diesel engines, but the fact remains that the price premium that diesels have, doesn't make them worth it for most people.
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MajorGeek 5:27PM (11/11/2009)
Im with you, but 5 years ago no one wanted a Hybrid or electric car, the Prius, backed by a lot of money, was able to go the distance and change peoples minds. As I said above, I hope BMW can ride it out 5 or 10 years.