Although diesel has not caught on in the United States compared to its prevalence in other countries, that hasn’t stopped automakers from trying anyway. One of the latest automakers to bring diesel power to the United States is BMW, which will offer the all-new 2011 5 Series with a diesel option.
BMW offers a range of diesel powertrains in Europe and has yet to confirm which specific engine offering will become available here. However, chances are it will be the BMW 530d which features a 3.0-liter six cylinder diesel engine that produces 245 horsepower with a maximum torque of 398 lb-ft. of torque.
With a 0-62 mph time of just 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 150 mph, we can’t wait to see this unit in U.S. showrooms. But BMW probably won’t be stopping there when it comes to alternative fuels.
“There are different ways to lower fuel consumption, and we’ll probably use most of them,” Willem Rombauts, product manager for the 5 Series, said in a recent interview. “You can bring hybrids, you can bring diesels. With us, it’s going to be a broad range in every area.”
Diesels are finding increasing demand among those in search of VA used BMW models as well as new cars, so any new diesels coming down the pipeline should find strong sales. Premium car buyers overall are increase interested in alternative fuels according to one Infiniti dealer Westborough. So while the lower-end of the auto market currently offers the most alternative fuel vehicles, expect big changes in the premium segment very soon.
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