As expected, the BMW press conference packed all the pomp and circumstance of your typical insurance seminar. But there was news. The automaker took the sheet off its new 50-state-legal diesel powertrain, which will hit dealers this fall in the 3 Series sedan and X5 sport-utility.
Both the 2009 BMW 335d and the 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d are powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 that generates a healthy 265 horsepower... More impressive is the staggering torque output — 425 pound-feet at just 1,750 rpm. So in other words, the inline-6 generates as much torque as Chrysler's 6.1-liter Hemi V8.
BMW says it's enough power to get the 335d from zero to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds, and the xDrive35d to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. The 335d's fuel economy is also impressive, BMW claims mileage figures of 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. And at 19 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, the diesel X5's mileage easily tops the standard X5 3.0si.
No word yet on pricing.--Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
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These are the new EPA numbers so I guess the bump to 23/33 is good. The 328i gets 18/28 so a 25% increase is pretty good. I tend to get better than most in fuel economy so seeing 26-27 mpg daily is pretty tempting.
0-60 in 6.2s also matches the 328i exactly, at least in the latest C&D comparison test.
So 25% more efficient for nearly identical performance off the line.
Sounds great. I wonder if the 335d will be automatic-only?