Thursday 18th August 2011

BMW Diesel M Car Confirmed (Almost)

M-tuned 5-series diesel looks to be a 'racing cert'

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BMW seems almost certain to introduce an M-tweaked 5-series diesel within the next 12 months - possibly as soon as the Geneva motor show in March next year.

As we reported last week, there have been whispers for a while that BMW's new tri-turbo 3.0-litre straight-six diesel will be dropped into an M-treated 5-series.

Now, BMW's global marketing manager for M cars, Brian Watts, has all-but-confirmed the car's existence, telling The Detroit Bureau that the project is 'under consideration' but hasn't been confirmed.

That sounds to us like marketing-speak for 'yes, it's coming, but we're not ready to tell you about it yet'.

As for the nitty-gritty of the car, while nothing's confirmed there, we expect a power output in the region of 400bhp, with torque of up to 650lb ft.

This heavy torque output could mean that BMW plumps for four-wheel drive, a theory that is backed up by the M550dX moniker spotted in our previous story.

It's also unlikely to be a 'full-on' M car; BMW knows its market and won't risk compromising the perceived purity of the brand, so expect this to be a halfway-house between a full-on M model and an M Sport spec. And M car purists shouldn't worry too much either - the V8 petrol-powered M5 is still on its way...

So, a four-wheel-drive diesel M car, eh? Sacrilege or a step forward? We'll let you decide that one (and we suspect you'll have a lot to say about it)...

[Mermaid]

It was a question of when, not if.....

I suppose this will be like a chipped 535dM.

[Mermaid]

irf said:

tri turbo?

not sure why i'm even thinking along these lines but surely that doesnt bode well for reliablity? i'm not thinking so much of the first owner.

That may be the grand plan . From their point of view, cars should be consumables with a life of less than 10 years, and the complexity would mean all work being carried out at BMW dealers. Win-win.

[Mermaid]

Zod said:

This won't outpoint the new M5. It's waydown on power. As earlier posts said, it won't be a full-on M car, but something like a 550dM xDrive or an M550d xDrive.

& would prefer the petrol or the diesel version assuming you replace your current M5 with 'similar'.

[Mermaid]

Mr Whippy said:

Not sure I 'get' them, but they are good value of money because they are a bit hideous, it seems. I wouldn't dare to think what they will be worth in 5yrs time...!

Dave

Good value

[Mermaid]

Mr Whippy said:

I just have this feeling it'll be made with a really dull sound, delivery and character, but apparently that is what sells these days.

BMW don't think of PH's when they design/develop new cars, and yet we are so generous with our opinion.