REPORT: BMW plans to offer four-cylinder diesels in the U.S.

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Technology, BMW, Diesel

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]

REPORT: BMW plans to offer four-cylinder diesels in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

BMW Alpina D3: Economical Excitement

Alex Nunez — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Europe, BMW

Let's mull over some numbers.

2.0 liters. 200 horsepower. 302 lb-ft. 7.4 seconds. 6 speeds. 47.9 miles per gallon* combined.

Put them all together in one car, and you have the Alpina D3, a serious diesel performer wrapped up in a BMW 3-series shell and made better by the magicians at Alpina. Packing 100hp/liter, the D3 is more than capable of holding its own against BMW's 330i. Sure the 330 is a second quicker to 60, but we're betting that the Alpina-massaged diesel is the more fun car to drive, thanks to its sizeable torque -- better than the 330's gasoline I6's by 82 lb-ft.

At the fuel pump, the matchup between the D3 and a 330i turns into a rout. The D3's 47.9 mpg rivals the numbers put out by some city cars, and is significantly better than the 330i's 32 mpg in the combined cycle. Consider that the 330 also requires premium unleaded and the economy gap widens even further.

Finally, since it's an Alpina, buyers get the special blue paint, an exclusive aero kit, 19" wheels, and an impressive list of interior upgrades. All that for £26,995? It's a steal. The 330i's pricing starts at over £2,000 more, and while it's undeniably excellent, it lacks the Alpina's cachet.

Powerful, economical, exclusive and fun -- that's the BMW Alpina D3 in a nutshell. We'd love to have one.

*MPG figures are in Imperial gallons. 1 Imperial gallon = 1.2 gallons

(Pics, Press Release after the jump)

[Source: Alpina]

Continue reading BMW Alpina D3: Economical Excitement

BMW Alpina D3: Economical Excitement originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Sep 2006 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments