Autoblog

Click above for more images of BMW's new diesels

The BMW X5 xDrive35d and 335d, both revealed live at the Detroit Auto Show, will be coming to the States in mid-October according to the latest rumor. The common engine will be BMW's dual turbocharged 3.0L inline-six diesel, good for 265 hp and 425 pound-feet of torque. According to BMW, these two vehicles will be among the most fuel-efficient and best performing in their respective classes. In addition, with their urea injection system and particulate filters, they should be among the cleanest too.

We called our contacts within BMW to confirm or deny the rumor, and as expected, our sources could only reiterate BMW's previous official statements that the cars would be "out by fall."

[Source: BMW Blog]

Part of the consortium of German auto manufacturers developing the Bluetec diesel technology, Volkswagen just announced that its new TDI will the cleanest diesel on the planet. To be used in the 2008 VW Jetta (and other smaller VWs), the new 2.0 liter common rail diesel engine differs from the urea injection systems used in other Bluetec vehicles, in that a nitrogen oxide reservoir in the catalytic converter is used to help it meet even Californian's most stringent emission standards, the Tier 2 / Bin 5 levels. A filter of sorts in the catalytic converter absorbs NOx like a sponge and constantly cleans itself by alternating modes for a few seconds periodically. We're told to expect this VeeDub to achieve a 90% reduction in NOx levels. Pretty impressive. Curiously, however, there's no mention of either projected fuel economy or power figures.

For larger cars, like the Passat, VW will use the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalytic converter. That's the one with the piss urea tank. The urea is sprayed through a mesh screen into the exhaust system. When it mixes with the hot exhaust gases it turns into ammonia, which breaks the NOx down into nitrogen and water. The goal is to make the tank large enough to last for one service cycle, at which point the service tech will refill it.

Check out the press release in full after the jump.

[Source: Volkswagen]

BMW is coming stag to the U.S. diesel party, despite hinting in October that they were close to joining fellow German automakers VW, Audi and DaimlerChrysler in marketing Bluetec technology in the U.S.

"We are in the process of thinking of a name that is different from Bluetec," a spokesman for BMW told Reuters on Wednesday.

Matt Davis over at Winding Road says you BMW fans yearning for diesel power should be appeased soon. But what BMW names their urea-injection technology remains to be seen. We'll probably find out for sure next week in L.A.

[Source: Reuters]