2011 BMW 5 Series – Click above for high-res image gallery
The new 2011 BMW 5 Series hasn't even gone on sale yet here in North America but there are now reports that BMW might add a diesel engine option. According to Inside Line, BMW will add diesel engine options to two more models in addition to the X5 xDrive35d and 335d already sold here with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six diesel.
The 3.0-liter with 265 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque would be ideally suited to the new 5 Series and has already been calibrated to pass U.S. 50 state emissions regulations. We drove a previous generation European specification 535d two years ago, which was quite the stormer while also being extremely fuel efficient. A 535d would also go a long way towards helping BMW meet new CAFE regulations here in the U.S.
The second diesel addition could be one of several models. Diesel versions of the 7 Series and X6 both seem unlikely since BMW is already offering hybrid versions of both. The more likely scenario is the installation of the company's 2.0-liter inline four- cylinder diesel in either the 1 or 3 Series. In twin-turbocharged form, this engine produces 204 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, plenty for either car with a combined fuel economy in the 35-40 mpg range.
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