BMW is considering selling a 1-series diesel, like this European spec 123d, in the U.S.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.--BMW will offer four-cylinder diesel engines in North America as it seeks to improve fuel efficiency and match the performance of its current six-cylinder gasoline engines.
BMW is considering diesels in a range of models, including its 1 series, 3 series and 5 series sedans and possibly the X3 crossover and Z4 roadster, said Tom Baloga, vice president of engineering for BMW of North America.
"You're going to see it in the 3 series, and the 5 series is a good possibility," Baloga said. "If the performance is sufficient in the X3, U.S. customers would likely accept it in the X5 as well."
Baloga did not disclose timing but said BMW will be ready to comply with emissions rules. Federal rules will regulate the amount of carbon dioxide per mile, based on an automaker's fleet average. The rules call for an average of 250 grams of C02 per mile by 2016, which equates to 35.5 mpg.
Baloga said BMW will seek diesel performance comparable to that of its current six-cylinder engines by using a turbocharged 2.0-liter model tuned for performance. In Europe BMW sells a 320d with a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel.
"Our four-cylinder diesel will be so good that people will readily accept it as a replacement for six cylinders," Baloga said. "With the weight reduction, performance could be similar to the turbocharged six-cylinder [gasoline engine] if we pushed very hard."
Baloga said BMW will aim for a substantial increase in its diesel sales mix in North America.
"If we hit 10 to 20 percent, we would be happy," he said.
In Europe, 70 percent of BMW's sales are diesels.
With exhaust treatment, BMW's diesels will meet California emission standards as well as federal tailpipe emission rules. Baloga didn't disclose what technology would be used--a diesel particulate filter or a selective catalytic reduction treatment with a refillable on-board urea tank as in the BMW 335d.
"The strategy for aftertreatment is to make it less expensive and less trouble," he said.
Unlike archrival Mercedes-Benz, which began selling diesels here in 1960, BMW waited until this year to introduce an ultraclean 50-state diesel engine. BMW's only prior U.S. diesel was the 524td, sold as a 1985 model.
BMW discontinued the model after selling 3,644 units in the United States. Demand fell off, and the reputation of diesels became tainted in the United States because of problems associated with diesels offered by General Motors in the 1980s.
Sales of the X5 xDrive35d and 335d, which are powered by a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, six-cylinder in-line diesel, got off to a slow start. Diesels now represent 13 percent of total X5 sales but only 1.3 percent of 3-series sedan sales.
BMW launched a marketing campaign and offered a $4,500 rebate on both diesels during last summer's cash-for-clunkers program. The incentive continues through December. Through October, BMW sold 1,002 335d sedans and 2,706 X5 xDrive35d crossovers.
The 335d has an EPA rating of 23 mpg city/36 mpg highway--35 percent higher than the gasoline-engine model. The X5 xDrive35d is rated at 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway. BMW says the vehicle's performance is comparable to that of a gasoline V-8 engine but fuel economy is 37.5 percent better.
(Source: Automotive News)
BMW's sole U.S. assembly plant is preparing to launch a hybrid version of the X6 sports coupe late this year, said Josef Kersher, president of BMW Manufacturing Co., of Spartanburg, S.C. But that doesn't mean the automaker is losing faith that U.S. buyers eventually will embrace diesel vehicles, he said.
More than half of the X5 crossovers built in Spartanburg are diesels, Kersher said. Today, the vast majority of those are shipped overseas, he said. Spartanburg supplies all the X5s and X6s for the world market, Kersher said.
BMW has faith that Americans will buy diesels if they give them a try, he said. Getting those consumers to consider diesels will require more aggressive marketing and dealer demonstrations to show that diesels are clean, fuel-efficient, and powerful, Kersher said.
(Source: Automotive News)
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
It's taken many years, but we've finally gotten a few diesel cars to choose from in the U.S. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen are all offering versions of their cars with diesel engines, and from what we've seen the fuel economy can be impressive. And unlike older diesel cars, these new models have good acceleration and no black soot spewing from the exhaust.
The BMW 123d isn't sold in the U.S., and that's a shame for a variety of reasons.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
With falling gas prices dampening enthusiasm for alternative fuels, and poor economic conditions causing automakers to tighten their belts, plans for new diesel car launches in the U.S. have slowed. However, diesel engine cars still present a good option over gasoline-powered cars, generally getting much better fuel economy. Although automakers scaled back their plans, Bosch, which makes diesel engine components, still wants to change the perception of diesel cars in the U.S. so the public will be more receptive, and even demanding of this technology from automakers.
To that end, Bosch loaned us a 2007 BMW 123d, a car you can't currently get in the U.S., so we could see how it performed in comparison with gasoline cars. Combating the image of soot-spewing diesel trucks, Bosch adopted the slogan "good, clean fun" for its diesel technology, and the BMW 123d was a means to make sure we had some fun.
BMW started selling its 1-series car in the U.S. last year, as the 128 and 135, in coupe and convertible formats. While we found both cars to be very enjoyable, the 123d is a hatchback, a style that makes much more sense with the diminutive sports car. Increased rear headroom makes the cars rear seats more usable, although still tight, and the hatchback means you have substantially more cargo area. After driving the 123d, we really wish BMW would bring the 1-series hatchback to the U.S., with a diesel or gas engine. It didn't hurt that this 123d was also fitted with an M kit, meaning a sport-tuned suspension.
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Don't expect to see the new E200 CDI or it's CGI sibling on North American roads anytime soon.
(Credit: Daimler AG)Mercedes-Benz has announced the addition of new four-cylinder E 200 CDI and CGI BlueEfficiency models to the European 2010 E-Class lineup.
The thrifty E 200 CDI is powered by a common-rail, direct-injected, 2.1-liter, diesel engine that outputs 136-horsepower and a staggering 365 pound-feet of torque. Zero to 62 mph happens in a decent 10.2 seconds, but what's most impressive is the 45.2 mpg that it averages while doing so.
Those who want a little bit more speed can hit 62 mph in 8.7 seconds in the E 200 CGI, which is powered by a turbocharged, direct-injected. 1.8-liter gasoline engine that makes 184-horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque while averaging 32.7 mpg on the EU combined-driving cycle.
Along with the new engines, the new E 200 models will also be available with driver assistance systems, such as drowsiness detection, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, and automatic emergency braking, which can help to prevent accidents.
The new E-Class four-bangers start at 38,734 euros (approximately $55,042) for the E 200 CDI BlueEfficiency and 39,508 euros (approximately $56,140) for the E 200 CGI BlueEfficiency. The models are expected to be available in Europe only, as early as September 2009.
President Barack Obama's goal to raise corporate average fuel economy standards to 35.5 miles a gallon by 2016 is ambitious. It's also attainable, but perhaps not in the way the president envisions.
As a candidate last summer, Obama set a goal to have 1 million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2015. Of course, the overwhelming majority of vehicles produced in 2015 will still be gasoline-powered. Fortunately, there already are several technologies such as direct injection, variable-valve timing, variable-valve actuation, variable-camshaft timing, variable-compression ratio, and turbocharging that will help reduce our dependence on the fossil fuels that power our vehicles.
The president said earlier this year that the 1908 Model T had fuel efficiency comparable to that of today's SUV. He was wrong. This industry has some of the world's greatest engineering talent, and we are well on our way to developing technologies to meet the president's fuel efficiency standards.
Here's a look at some promising technologies for the future that this industry's best and brightest are working on today:
... Read moreMainstream carmakers have put the brakes on nine diesel-powered vehicles that had been scheduled for 2010.
Honda, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, and Toyota have halted diesel programs because of spiraling costs and other problems.
Financial problems halted the programs at some companies. Others, like Toyota, are looking elsewhere for fuel economy. "We are banking heavily on hybrids," said Toyota spokesman Curt McAllister.
Only German automakers--Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW--have followed through with plans to launch U.S. diesels on time. Most German diesels are in premium vehicles similar to vehicles built in large numbers for Europe and other markets. That volume reduces development and production costs per vehicle.
A diesel engine typically delivers fuel economy 20 to 30 percent better than that of a gasoline engine. But a diesel can add between $3,000 and $8,000 to a vehicle's price. Costly components include the turbocharger, the high-pressure fuel injection system and the complex emissions system, which is filled with precious metals. That cost seems to be a barrier for the mass-market brands.
Still, the new German diesels are selling well. The price of diesel fuel may be a factor. It has dropped from its high last summer of $4.85 per gallon--considerably more than gasoline--to $2.63 last week, a few pennies less than a gallon of regular gasoline.
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(Credit:
BMW of North America, LLC )
BMW confirmed today that its BMW X1 crossover SUV will debut in the United States during the 2011 calendar year. The X1 will be available in rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive flavors powered by both gasoline and diesel power-train options.
BMW's X1 crossover slots below the X3 in the model lineup.
(Credit: BMW of North America, LLC )In Europe, the X1 will be available in six trim levels, from the 258 horsepower, straight-six gasoline powered X1 xDrive28i to the turbodiesel X1 xDrive23d, which produces 295 pound-feet of torque. BMW isn't telling which, if any, of the European power trains we will see in the North American X1, but the press release makes special mention of the X1 sDrive18d, which reaches an estimated 54.3 mpg (EU standard), so we think it's safe to assume that at least that variant will make the hop across the pond.
BMW cites "U.S. market demands, fuel prices, and regulatory standards" as factors in its decision to bring the crossover vehicle to U.S. shores.
This photo, taken at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show, shows Volvo's ReCharge it concept, which is a flex-fuel plug-in hybrid that uses in-wheel motors and is based on the C30 coupe platform.
(Credit: CNET)The maker of some of the world's safest vehicles will soon be the maker of one of the world's most fuel-efficient vehicles. Volvo announced today plans to produce a plug-in hybrid vehicle that will be available in 2012.
"Most car journeys are short trips, for instance to and from work. We will be able to offer a product that fulfills this transportation need. In order to cover longer distances as well, the car will also be equipped with one of Volvo's fuel-efficient diesel engines," Volvo President and CEO Stephen Odell said in a press statement.
The new development will be a joint venture between Volvo and Swedish energy company Vattenfall. Volvo plans to create a plug-in version of an existing model rather than create a new one, and its charging systems will be developed and supplied by Vattenfall.
Volvo has previously stated its plans for a fleet of 10 plug-in hybrids. The Swedish car company did not name which of its existing cars will be the first to go plug-in, but last year Volvo road-tested the ReCharge Plug-in Hybrid, which is based on the C30 coupe platform and uses a diesel engine to power the lithium ion batteries.
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We may have saved a few mpg on our road trip, but we didn't do any favors for the insect life along I-5.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)We were recently given the opportunity to take the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL320 BlueTEC on a long-distance road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back. While this seven seated behemoth was probably not the best vehicle to transport one journalist across the state of California, we figured this long trip down Interstate 5 would be a good opportunity to see how close the fuel-efficient diesel powerplant could get to its EPA estimated mileage.
The powerplant in question is a 3.0-L turbodiesel V-6 that outputs 210 horsepower and a beefy 398 pound-feet of torque. The engine sends its power through a seven-speed adaptive automatic transmission to Mercedes-Benz's 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system. Keeping the diesel's emissions clean is an AdBlue injection system that scrubs up to 80 percent of NOx from the exhaust gases. Greenies will be happy to know that the BlueTEC diesel is also approved for use with B5 biodiesel.
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