BBC reports BMW 1 series diesel coming to US?

[saaber1]

Saw this article on BBC news about diesels coming to the US that says:

"BMW's new 1-series convertible, meanwhile, will be sold with a 3.5 litre 306 horse power diesel; the 2 litre diesel version that will be on offer in Europe will not be available in the US."

Does anybody know more about this? This is the first time I have seen it. I didn't know the 1 series was going to have a diesel. Is this bunk?

Here's the article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7232357.stm

The article also says:

Audi will also introduce diesel to its large A8 executive car this year and Mercedes is rolling out its Bluetec range.

 

[XS650]

I believe the 1 series has had a diesel option since 2004 outside the US.

It's a 2 liter engine with about 160 hp. I would prefer that to the 306hp beast for an everyday driver. 200hp would be ideal for me in a car like that.

 

[JHZR2]

306 hp diesel??? It likely has about 500 lb-ft of torque. I highly doubt that such an engine would actually show up in a 1-series, it would effectively compete with other "sportier" highline offerings in the 1 and 3 series lineup.

not to mention that it very well could make the front end of that little car so heavy that it handles poorly.

And a convertible is the last car that one would consider a diesel for.. its just a completely different marketing segment of the buying public. Diesel buyers are the cheapskates (myself included), ga$$er and convertible buyers want something "sportier".

JMH

 

[rearviewmirror]

Well BMW has opted to put the twin turbo 300 HP engine in the car already so a diesel option at that power wouldn't hurt anything. European car makers don't play that stupid game worrying about engine sized like the failure american auto makers. Audi offers the same engines in cars from the A3 to the A6. Same w/ BMW, the 1, 3, and 5 all share common engines.

 

[glennc]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
306 hp diesel??? It likely has about 500 lb-ft of torque. I highly doubt that such an engine would actually show up in a 1-series, it would effectively compete with other "sportier" highline offerings in the 1 and 3 series lineup.

not to mention that it very well could make the front end of that little car so heavy that it handles poorly.

And a convertible is the last car that one would consider a diesel for.. its just a completely different marketing segment of the buying public. Diesel buyers are the cheapskates (myself included), ga$$er and convertible buyers want something "sportier".

If this is true then it is great news. There has been talk for a long time that they would sell the 535d and possibly the 335d in the US but had probably ruled out the 135d. On the other hand that might be just the type of car the US market needs to realize how potent the newer diesels are. Personally I would like to see them bring in the smaller diesels, and getting the US market comfortable with "diesel" period is probably a first step. None of the manufacturers wants to risk having them labeled as doggy slow things the way they have been seen to date, so maybe they sort of have to start from the top down.

Even the smaller diesels have PLENTY of power, but that won't overcome showroom stigma if they start of with bad press, and the press is so demanding of performance that I could see the smaller diesels being ho-hummed.

 

[VaderSS]

Ooohh, think I'll wait for this one instead of getting a 135i...