[GoingTooFast]

All the following flag technologies from BMW makes for a strong case in favor of a BMW M diesel model:

The BMW engine module system maximises synergies.

The basis of the new family of engines is a common design principle for in-line units. The basic engine is made up of optimized cylinder modules with capacities of 500 cc each, developed to the pinnacle of thermodynamic efficiency for use in a passenger vehicle. Consequently the new three-cylinder engine has a capacity of 1.5 litres, the four-cylinder unit is 2.0 litres and the six-cylinder is 3.0 litres. The power developed in each cylinder is between 30 and 55 kW (at 60 – 80 Nm) in the case of the petrol engine, while the diesel develops between 20 and 45 kW (at 75 – 110 Nm).

High degree of commonality between petrol and diesel engines.

The structural similarities between the petrol and diesel engines include the distance between cylinders, the aluminium crankcase, the balance shaft design, the arrangement of the timing chain, the layout of the cylinder head bolts and the high-quality coating on the cylinder bore surfaces. Overall, the number of identical parts used in engines powered by the same type of fuel climbs to 60 percent, while the level of structural similarities between petrol and diesel engines is around 40%. Even more benefits are provided by standardised interfaces. In addition to the identical engine mounting points, these are primarily the interfaces to the cooling circuit, the intake and exhaust manifolds and the heating and air conditioning systems. Compared to current models, the number of possible combinations in these areas has decreased by about half. Finally, all of the power units have the same “cold” intake and “hot” exhaust sides. This is why the three and four-cylinder engines in this new family are eminently suited to both longitudinal and transverse mounting in future BMW and MINI models.

Decisive development, flexible manufacturing, premium quality.

With the new modular engine, the BMW Group will in future be able to build three, four and six-cylinder power units delivering different levels of performance, each perfectly matched to its respective vehicle. This results in larger volumes, leading to significant savings in both development and production. In addition, the high degree of commonality facilitates the development of additional engine versions, which can then be realised economically at short notice, even in relatively small numbers. For the first time, petrol and diesel engines belonging to this new range can be manufactured together, at the same time, in the BMW Group’s engine production facilities. In this way, even short-term fluctuations in demand or new market developments can be addressed flexibly, with great success.

The future is here.

The architecture for the new series of models and new engines has already been defined. With the BMW Group’s new Efficient Dynamics family of engines, it is also possible to provide for a wealth of new models of automobile in the coming years. Because theoretically, the new family of engines could provide ten ultramodern petrol and diesel engines with three, four or six cylinders, for vehicles with both longitudinal and transverse engine positions.

[GoingTooFast]

Let's face it, the Alfa Romeo 4C offers to customers a package of performance, fuel-efficiency, beauty, every day convenience and, ultimately, driving fun that has no parallel in the current car industry. It's a UNIQUE product in it's own right, which for Alfa Romeo it will mean a sales success story, no doubt!

So, how could BMW also have a UNIQUE product?! One that wouldn't have parallel in the current car industry?! How could BMW be a pioneer in a cost-effective manner by making use of their current flag technologies while projecting the brand name towards a much more fuel-efficient and environmental clean future?!

I know it's a bold statement, but looking at the competition I see no alternative for BMW than building the first true M diesel model in the likes of a lighter-weight version of the 1M - called M2d !

For sure, it would be the FIRST true street diesel sports car EVER and a BIG step forward in building true GREEN dynamic machines:



Rolling in California: Diesel cars as green machines

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Once derided as dirty and shunned by consumers, diesel cars have made a comeback in California as green machines.

While public attention has focused on flashier technologies like all-electric, hydrogen or hybrid vehicles, registrations for diesel cars and sport-utility vehicles jumped 55 percent in California from 2010 to 2012, according to figures compiled by auto information specialist R.L. Polk & Co.

The national growth rate in diesel cars and SUVs in the same period was a more modest 24.3 percent, said a recent Diesel Technology Forum report that contained the R.L. Polk information. In 2012, there were 84,106 diesel passenger cars and SUVs registered in California - 10.5 percent of the total.

George Grinzewitsch Jr., whose Von Housen Automotive Group oversees Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Sacramento, El Dorado Hills and Rocklin, Calif., said the three stores sold 99 new diesel vehicles in 2012, or 7 percent of all new-vehicle sales last year.

They're on a similar pace this year.

"The simple reason is that diesel cars and their technology are just incredible today . . . way better than back in the 1970s and 1980s when we were selling a lot of diesel cars," Grinzewitsch said. "Today's diesels not only have strong performance, they're clean and green. And green is good these days."

"Clean" and "green" were not words American motorists associated with diesel-fueled cars in the 1960s and 1970s, when engines rattled and exhaust pipes emitted clearly visible fumes and a nose-wrinkling odor.

California's strict standards for emissions and fuels eventually pushed dirty diesels to the sidelines, and by 1997, only Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen offered diesel engine cars in the United States.

That very same year, however, the clean makeover of diesel began. Mercedes-Benz, proud of its diesel lineage dating back to the 1930s, introduced the Common Rail Direct Injection system, or CDI for short.

The complex system uses high-pressure fuel injection and computer-controlled electronic injectors to achieve more precise - and therefore cleaner - combustion.

Nine years later, at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler AG introduced its BlueTEC clean diesel technology for the Mercedes E-Class sedan.

The nucleus of the technology is AdBlue, an injected liquid solution that reduces smog-causing nitrogen oxide to nitrogen and water vapor.

BlueTEC's introduction dovetailed with the rollout of the ultralow-sulfur diesel fuel requirement in California, a standard capable of being met by diesel engines using green technologies that also included particulate filters.

Mercedes-Benz saw an opportunity. Ditto Volkswagen, which had remained doggedly committed to diesel.

At the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen AG Chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder told hundreds of journalists that diesels would remain VW's emphasis despite California's concern over emissions.

His remarks met with scorn from some California-based auto industry writers who insisted that hydrogen fuel and gas-electric hybrid technology were the future of environmentally friendly cars.

Three years later, at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI was named Green Car of the Year. It got an estimated 41 miles per gallon on the highway and complied with emission standards in all 50 states.

The doorway for diesel was starting to swing open.

"With the Green Car of the Year award and meeting emissions standards in all 50 states, that really raised the attention," said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum. "Advancements in clean diesel were being recognized. That kind of kicked things forward in California in a big way."

Today, the vehicle lineups of Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen include multiple diesel passenger car and SUV offerings. And more competitors are trying to get a piece of the business.

Audi is making a big diesel push this year. Other diesel offerings are coming from BMW, Jeep, Mazda and Porsche.

Even Chevrolet - an icon among devotees of gas-fueled, internal-combustion engines - is heavily touting its 2014 Cruze "clean turbo diesel sedan," capable of 46 mpg.

While the per-gallon cost of standard diesel has been running ahead of the price of regular unleaded gas, diesel advocates are quick to point out that today's clean diesel engines are 20 percent to 40 percent more fuel-efficient than their gas-powered counterparts.

In the United States, diesels make up only about 3 percent of the passenger vehicle market, but the number of diesel models available in the U.S., now about 30, is expected to grow substantially in the next couple of years.

Not only that, an increasing number of diesel engines are capable of using diesel alternatives, including biodiesel.

The Diesel Technology Forum's Schaeffer acknowledges that diesel is not for everyone.

He said some consumers remain fixated to this day on the noisy, smelly problems of long-ago diesels. Others worry about the ready availability of diesel fuel on the roadways. Still others have committed to highly publicized, high-fuel-mileage gas-electric hybrids.

"Not every type of technology is going to work for every person," Schaeffer said. "Hybrids definitely have their advantages, but hybrids might not achieve their posted fuel economy, especially if you're driving a lot of freeway miles."

Some local motorists driving diesel vehicles say they respect the proliferation of hybrid and electric vehicles in California, but they don't plan to switch anytime soon.

"My friends think I drive a spaceship, but I love my (Volkswagen diesel) Jetta," said Judy Lucas of Sacramento. "It goes for miles and miles before it needs (refilling), and it's really not that difficult to find diesel these days . . . and I don't have to worry about a battery dying."

Sacramentan Mary Wilson said she remembers her father driving "one of those old Mercedes diesels years ago, but our (Mercedes-Benz ML350 diesel SUV) is so, so different from that. . . .

"You don't even know it's a diesel. It doesn't sound like one . . . or look like one. Even with a pretty strong engine, we're getting about 30 (mpg) on the highway."

[GoingTooFast]

Diesel propositions are so competitive right now (and I'm not yet talking about BIODIESEL ) that makes it very hard to justify buying a EV (electric vehicle) such as Tesla, with all their associated problems like limited autonomy (let alone in a sports car), charging stations availability and price, when you can buy for a lot less money a diesel PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric) such as the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, which combines a diesel engine and rechargeable batteries, with non of the EV associated problems and the same advantages :


Coming to the US in January 2014

V60 Plug-in Hybrid - the technically most advanced Volvo model ever

There are many hybrids on the market, but none of them can match the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid.
The world's first diesel plug-in hybrid is Volvo Car Corporation's most technically advanced model ever - an electric car, hybrid car and high-performance car all rolled into one. At the mere touch of a button you can choose which of your three cars you want to drive at any given moment in time.

The production version of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid is launched in just one colour - Electric Silver. The first cars in the Pure Limited edition will be built in the autumn of 2012.
"Our plug-in hybrid has received considerable attention since it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011. Now we're taking the next step with the production model, which is graced with a distinctive profile featuring a spectacular silver colour, an exclusive interior and generous standard equipment," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.
The first 1,000 units of the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid are only available in Electric Silver livery. The car is also distinguished by aero-designed 17-inch wheels, integrated exhaust tailpipes and a number of bodywork features in glossy black, such as the grille and the aerodynamic front spoiler.
The chromed "Plug-in Hybrid" emblem is found both on the lower part of the tailgate and in a smaller version on the front wings.

Exclusive interior

The interior of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid has black leather upholstery with contrasting stitching and inlays of blue-grey Arctic Night Wood. Other distinctive interior details include a leather-covered steering wheel, specially designed mats and a gear lever knob with integrated indicator.
The list of standard equipment includes features such as speed-dependent power steering, electrically adjustable driver's seat, parking sensors front and rear, Bluetooth phone link and
Volvo on Call.
The High Performance Multimedia DVD audio system with its 4x40 W amplifier, eight loudspeakers and seven-inch screen is also standard.

Smartphone app

The V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the first Volvo to be launched with an entirely digital Driver Information Monitor (DIM). The conventional analogue gauges have been replaced with a one-piece LED screen offering a large number of display options. The driver can choose which information to show via the car's menu setup.
It is also possible to communicate with the car via a mobile app. This gives the owner access
to a number of smart functions such as preconditioning (heating and cooling) and a reminder to connect the charge cable if this has not been done by a predetermined time.

The first Volvo with the D6 AWD badge

On the car's tailgate there is a D6 AWD badge. The reason is that the combined performance of the five-cylinder turbodiesel and electric motor puts the car firmly within the same horsepower range as the petrol-powered T6.
The front wheels of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid are powered by a five-cylinder 2.4-litre turbodiesel producing 215 hp and maximum torque is 440 Nm. The car has a six-speed automatic transmission.
The rear axle is powered by an electric motor producing 70 horsepower and 200 Nm. The electric motor is supplied with power from an 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack installed under the floor of the load compartment.
The sophisticated and exceptionally compact battery pack consists of 10 modules each containing 20 cells. An integrated computer monitors the system and compares temperature and charge level in each of the 200 cells. The battery pack also has an integrated water-cooling system driven by the car's climate unit.

Three driving modes - three cars in one

The driver selects the required driving mode via three buttons that give the car three entirely different temperaments: Pure, Hybrid or Power.

• In Pure mode the car is powered solely by its electric motor as much as possible. If the battery pack has been recharged with electricity from renewable sources, its range is up to 50 kilometres and its carbon dioxide emissions are zero. The electric range varies with terrain, climate and driving style.
• Hybrid is the standard setting whenever the car is started. The diesel engine and electric motor cooperate to ensure optimal balance between driving pleasure and environmental footprint. CO2 emission (NEDC, mixed driving cycle for certification) are 48g/km, corresponding to diesel consumption of 1.8l/100 km. The car has a total range of up to 900 km.
• In Power mode the technology is optimised to give the car the maximum possible power. The diesel engine and electric motor have a total power output of 215+70 horsepower and maximum torque of 440+200 Nm. The electric motor's lightning-quick torque delivery contributes to the car's acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds.

Save battery power for later

The driver can choose to save battery power in order to drive on pure electricity later on, for instance in an urban green zone or in the heart of a city.
When Save is activated, the on-board system ensures that there is always sufficient charge for driving later in Pure mode. If necessary, the high-tension generator will charge the battery pack so there is sufficient capacity for driving in Pure mode.
The aim is that the Save mode should ensure there is sufficient battery power for about 20 kilometres of driving on electricity alone.

Charge at home - cooling or heating in advance

The V60 Plug-in Hybrid can be recharged from a regular power outlet (230V/6A, 10A or 16A fuse) at home or in a parking lot. Recharging time varies with amperage. A full charge with 10A takes 4.5 hours. This is cut to 3.5 hours with 16A, while a 6A charge takes 7.5 hours.
It is also possible while recharging the car to heat or cool the passenger compartment to provide a more comfortable start to your journey. This also means that more battery power is available for actually propelling the car.
The pre-conditioning function can also cool the batteries. The ideal operating temperature for the battery pack is 20-25°C. This means that cooling prior to driving is very important in order to maximise battery charge and thus also range.
The V60 Plug-in Hybrid has two heating systems. In electric mode the car uses a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) air heater. The car also has a diesel-powered heater.

Better pulling power with four-wheel drive (AWD)

Pressing the AWD button activates the electrical four-wheel drive. Instead of the mechanical power transfer of conventional four-wheel drive, the central control unit distributes power between the diesel-driven front wheels and the electrically-driven rear axle. The electric four-wheel drive system has been designed as a traction system to provide better grip when starting and when driving on slippery roads, for instance in snow or mud.
However, owing to the electric motor's lower power, torque to the rear wheels is limited and four-wheel drive is active up to approximately 150 km/h.
When four-wheel drive is activated, the diesel engine operates continuously and the generator ensures that the charge level in the battery pack is sufficient to supply the rear axle with the necessary power.
Since electric four-wheel drive is only activated when needed, it is more economical than conventional permanent four-wheel drive.

Regeneration of braking energy

A two-stage braking system is yet another smart feature of the Volvo Plug-in Hybrid. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the system starts braking the rear axle's electric motor. The mechanical brakes are activated only when the situation requires more braking power than the rear axle can provide.
The braking energy can be used to recharge the battery.

[GoingTooFast]

Also...



BMW Rumored to Take Tri-Turbo Diesel to 420 HP

Ladies and Gentlemen drivers, allow us to notice that the compression-ignition engine is entering a new, superior, stage in its life. In the US, the days when diesels were associated with commercial and agricultural machines seem to be gone - more and more carmakers are introducing oil burners to the market and sales of diesel models have increased by over 25 percent this year.

However, the true diesel revolution is taking place in Europe, where BMW is now rumored to be working on an even more muscular version for its new Tri-Turbo diesel engine. In its current form, the N57D30 3.0-liter powerplant delivers 381 hp and 740 Nm (546 lb-ft) of torque, but it seems that this isn’t enough for certain customers.

That’s because while the powerplant does bring a hefty output increase over the 300 hp+ & 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) twin-turbo diesel that previously served as BMW’s flagship oil burner, the fact that it’s only offered with all-wheel drive brings a weight increase that affects all the performance areas.

Thus, BMW wants to take the engine deeper into the performance woods, so that it can increase the performance gap between this new development and the twin-turbo unit. The Tri-Turbo will climb to 420 hp, with the new version set to debut on the 5-Series facelift (LCI), which should arrive in summer 2013, as Bimmertoday writes. At the moment, it is unclear if the performance upgrade will also be offered for the X5 and X6 models.

To get a better idea of the Tri-Turbo diesel unit’s full potential, we can turn to the aftermarket world, where the unit has been taken all the way up to 438 hp and 850 Nm (630 lb-ft) by German tuning specialist Hartge.

Our say: We know some of you would like to see a RWD-only version, of course delivered with an extra set of rear tires.

Hartge promises 438 HP for tri-turbo diesel engine

German tuner Hartge is preparing to launch their own power kit for BMW’s first tri-turbo diesel engine. Based on the popular 3.0 liter inline-six (N57D30), but with an extra turbocharger, the innovative powerplant produces, in standard form, 381 horsepower and 740 Nm (546 lb-ft) of torque.

The size, arrangement and interplay strategy of the three turbos are designed to guarantee maximum power delivery across a wide rev band. The system comprises two relatively small turbochargers and one large turbo, which join forces precisely to deliver the amount of power required.

According to the driving situation, the low moment of inertia of the small turbochargers is exploited to the full to deliver razor-sharp responses, while the link-up with the large turbo is maximized to generate as much charge pressure as possible.

BMW also engineered a new aluminum crankcase, common-rail direct injection with piezo injectors and high-pressure turbocharges with variable turbine geometry.

Harge amps up the power of the innovative diesel unit to 438 horsepower and 850 NM of torque. The Hartge tuning will be available for all six tri-turbo diesel models available, M550d xDrive Sedan and Touring, the X6 M50d and X5 M50d, as well as for the facelifted BMW 750D and 750Ld xDrive.

Pricing will be announced in the near future.

[GoingTooFast]

As for the diesel engine sound I believe that BMW has nothing to fear looking at what Maserati has so successfully accomplished:

[GoingTooFast]

BMW will never build a lightweight fuel car as the Alfa Romeo 4C in the near future, so it's VERY clear in my mind that the way for BMW to make a statement is a M diesel model in the likes of lighter-weight 1M with a diesel engine !

I will let you to choose which one...


However, realistically speaking, there's only two possibilities. Let's find out which:

1. First of all we have to realize that the strongest competition to BMW in the driver's car departement comes right now from Mercedes-Benz with their CLA 45 AMG which is, as you well know, a AWD proposition with 360 hp @ 6000 rpm and 450 Nm (45.9 mkg / 332 lb-ft) of torque from 2250 to 5000 rpm;
   
2. Secondly, a M diesel engine solution must necessarily come from BMW's M division thus it must comprises a Tri-Turbo with all its inherent advantages in terms of throttle response and wider power band;
   
3. Finally, since a turbocharged diesel engine inherently has more torque than an equivalent petrol one - the torque developed in each 500 cc cylinder is between 60 – 80 Nm in the case of the petrol engine, while the diesel develops between 75 – 110 Nm (refer to picture above) - a decision has to be made as far as which type of drivetrain should be used - RWD or the XDrive all-wheel-drive system.

• If the choice is RWD only, then by taking advantage of the BMW engine module system the multi-stage turbocharging concept with three turbochargers must be applied on the 2.0-liter diesel engine and the max. torque limited to 450-500 Nm;
  
• If, on the other hand, the choice is the XDrive electronic all-wheel-drive system (somewhat similar to what Mercedes uses in the CLA 45 AMG) then BMW’s tri-turbo diesel engine based on the 3.0 liter inline-six (N57D30) delivering a max. torque of 740 Nm (546 lb-ft) at 2,000 - 3 000 rpm can be used in combination with the XDrive all-wheel-drive system and a default setup of 30:70 for the power distribution ratio between the front and rear axles (like the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti had in DTM during the nineties!);
  
• Assuming that the eight-speed Sports automatic gearbox with gearshift paddles on the steering wheel would be always present in both solutions, the only caveat with the second solution would be the car weight which I very much doubt could be kept below the 1M's 1570 kg.

Gentleman choose your weapons!

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[GoingTooFast]

For instance... Mercedes did a real good job with the new CLA/A45 AMG twins and I sincerely believe, it's not only a personal desire, that BMW this time shouldn't try to follow the 'higher engine power output figures' classic trend because it won't be able to compete against the Mercedes both aesthetically (WOW factor) and dynamically (performance-wise) judging by the future 2 series model.

Therefore, BMW should take the opportunity to mark a difference and take the 'Efficient Dynamics' statement to a MUCH higher level with the first true street diesel sports car, and the first one produced by the M division, weighting no more than 1500 kg (EU weight) and equipped with a tri-turbo diesel engine and the ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shifts, RWD or AWD, in order to compete against the fantastic AMG baby-twins:

BMW, you have been warned!

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[GoingTooFast]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

Goingtoofast...where do you live?

You seem stuck on diesel, understand if you live overseas. But in a lot states in the US, diesel is more expensive than premium gas.

I'm very thankful to you for giving me the opportunity to explain.

Yes, I live overseas in Europe and like in some states in the US, diesel is not always cheaper than petrol across the european countries although that is true for the vast majority of them. One of the notable exceptions is the UK (1p ~ 2 cents)(*), where not only the diesel is much more expensive than the diesel in the US but also the price difference to petrol is much higher(**):


(*)





(**) The U.S. Energy Information Administration tracks International Energy Prices weekly showing data from 6 European countries. Some countries subsidize diesel through lower taxes. (Note that Spain, Portugal, and Greece are not tracked in these graphs. All have lower prices than the tracked countries):

Weekly Retail Premium Motor Gasoline Prices (Including Taxes) vs Weekly Retail Diesel (Road) Prices (Including Taxes)



However, the important issue is that even though diesel may not always be priced competitively with petrol the CLEAR higher-mileage advantage of diesel more than makes up for the possible price disadvantage and this is even MORE evident when talking about sports cars. To better understand this let me give you my example based on my driving style - what mileage I'm getting now with my BMW 1M and what I can save (educated estimates) using the same driving style with the Alfa Romeo 4C, by virtue of the lightweight and lower power yet better performance, and with a possible BMW M2d (M diesel version of the 2-series), by virtue of using a diesel engine and keep the weight not higher than 1500 kg (EU weight - European Directive 95/48/EC which specifies the kerb weight as a car in ready to drive condition with the fuel tank 90% full, a driver on board weighing 68 kg and luggage of 7 kg.):


................... Average Fuel Consumption......... (0-62 mph).......... EU Weight
BMW 1M............ 18.5 l/100km (petrol).............. 4.9 sec................ 1570 kg
Alfa 4C.............. 15.5 l/100km (petrol).............. 4.5 sec................ 1020 kg
BMW M2d.......... 13.0 l/100km (diesel)............... 4.7 sec (xDrive).... 1500 kg

CLA 45 AMG.............. N/A.......(petrol).............. 4.6 sec (AWD)...... 1585 kg

(18.5 l/100 km = 12.7 MPG; 15.5 l/100 km = 15.2 MPG; 13.0 l/100 km = 18.1 MPG)




With a diesel engine BMW could easily justify the use of AWD (xDrive) in a M car in order to be able to compete against the Mercedes AWD AMG twins in the areas where the twins excel:

• Performance
• Steering Feel
• Brake Feel and Resistance to fade
• Ride Quality (without adaptative suspensions)
• Handling (without adaptative suspensions)

And, at the same time, to CLEARLY surpass them for every driving style in:

• Mileage !!!

PS: Realistically speaking:

1. I would be happy enough if at least BMW could match the CLA 45 AMG weight, at 1585 kg (EU weight), for such M diesel version of the 2-series, the M2d;
   
2. I don't believe BMW can compete this time against the Mercedes AMG baby-twins with a M 2-series RWD only car - to do so, they would need to shear a lot of weight from the 2-series car.

[GoingTooFast]

Oh, and for those of you not believing how good the AMG baby-twins are you should not forget that the M135i with the 8-speed automatic gearbox can be faster than the 1M and that the AMG twins are faster than the M135i :

Now, the good news... there is already a M135i xDrive (AWD, 8-speed automatic gearbox) version which is faster than the M135i RWD only version (4.7 sec. against 4.9 sec. in the 0-62 mph, BMW quoted acceleration times) and weighs 75 kg more, at 1590 kg...

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[GoingTooFast]

Take this car and turn it into the first (1500 kg, EU weight) diesel M car in the whole BMW's history, the M2d, and at the same time the first true driver's street diesel car EVER being produced... anything different from this will just be more of the same from BMW!

[GoingTooFast]

Klaus Froehlich, Senior Vice President Brand and Product Strategies BMW Group told us that (...) “I have just signed off the M235i’s M Sport performance kit, which will include a proper limited slip differential. I’m just working out whether to make this an option on all models.

in Autoexpress

If the M Sport performance kit with a proper limited slip differential is to be available on all 2-series models, inclunding its most powerful diesel version - the already confirmed M225d, it can be a very good opportunity to show the whole world what a proper sports street diesel car is capable of.

It can be a very promising start for a future M2 diesel version...

[Red Bread]

GTF, have you heard something official about an M225d?

[GoingTooFast]

[GoingTooFast]

We've just returned from Lisbon, Portugal, where BMW held its press launch for the BMW 4 Series (our review to come). While you've seen plenty of photos of the 4 Series in M Sport and its separate lines, here is the first look at the upcoming M Performance Parts for the 4 Series.

Performance Parts:

BMW will finally offer an optional limited slip differential (LSD) as part of the M Performance Parts catalog. The LSD will be a clutch type unit and feature a 30% lockup. LSD may be offered for other models eventually, depending on how well it sells for the 4 Series.

The M Performance LSD will join the other mechanical upgrades we have seen in the F30 3 Series Catalog - the M Performance Power Kit (+33 hp / + 37 lb-ft), exhaust system, brakes, suspension (10mm lowering), and a new style 20" M Performance wheels.

Cosmetic Parts:

The M Performance aero parts include the carbon fiber front splitter, rear spoiler, rear diffuser, and mirror caps. It also includes black sides kirt blades and kidney grilles. The sides of the car feature M Performance stripes. Like the F30, the front splitter and rear diffusers require the M Sport Package bumpers.

Interior:

The interior includes: alcantara dashboard, carbon interior trim with alcantara, M Performance alcantara steering wheel with race display, carbon fiber trim and contrast stitching, carbon fiber gearshift lever with alcantara gaiter, stainless steel pedal covers / footrest, carbon fiber hand brake lever with alcantara gaiter, and M Performance floor mats.

Are you sitting down? Good, here it is: all BMW 4 Series models will benefit from the M Performance Package kits. That means that the 428i, 435i and 420d (for Europe) will be sporting even more power than normal, if you'd like it so.

(...)

As for the diesel 420d that is currently available only in Europe, the stock car has 184 HP and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque, whilst when pumped up it will reach 200 HP and 309 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque. All from a 2-liter diesel unit.

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[GoingTooFast]

Originally Posted by JSpira

It sounds like 2015 is far away but some 2014s have been in dealer showrooms for months and it´s only July.

Diesel Car Preview for 2014-15




2014 Audi A8 L TDI

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[GoingTooFast]

The AMG baby-twins have raised the game in such a way that the old BMW's recipe won't work anymore. There must be some serious innovation... clearly this is not good enough, both aesthetically and dynamically...

[GoingTooFast]

Talking about serious innovation...

[GoingTooFast]

[GoingTooFast]

They are rolling out of the factory...

[gonzo]

What is the cubic feet of storage number and are there pics?

That pearl looks pretty good.

[GoingTooFast]

I don't know, didn't measure it... but you can take the hand of a regular guy to have a sense of scale (since you are from TeXXXas) :





Also, you can see two distinct shades of white... 'white matte' for the LE version and 'bright white' for the standard version.

LE


Standard

[Red Bread]

Somewhere in here, there was a statement that the front bonnet is bolted down, correct? So no split storage like a Boxster/Cayman? Is there any space behind the seats?

Gotta say I really like the shiny white, the matte is interesting, but not something I'd want for myself.