I’ll believe it when I see it though.

From autonews.com

It looks a lot like the outgoing model, but BMW says the fifth-generation 7 Series is all new.

The car, which will make its world premiere at the Paris motor show this fall, takes styling cues from the CS concept BMW showed in Shanghai in 2007, though the new 7 can best be described as evolutionary rather than revolutionary as the last generation was.
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Some of the biggest import auto manufacturers are pushing diesel at the Detroit Auto Show, but not much came from the Americans. GM in particular seems to want to be the Sony of the car world, and push E85 while all the rest push diesel.

I have no problem with other ways to be green it’s really just Lutz’s seeming open hatred for diesel. His quote from the Frankfurt show, “We have the gravest of doubts that diesels are the solution. But we’re forging ahead anyway just in case they become easily fathomable or the cost of the hardware drops or with the fuel economy some of the extreme emissions regulations get lowered.”

I just want to know how all the other manufacturers can be profitable, but GM can’t. At least they and Ford will soon be offering smaller diesels in their trucks, but that’s little consolation for the average driver trying to save on fuel costs.

Anyway, below is an article from afp.com talking more about this, difference in opinion, in the industry. I think GM and Ford should take heed from Karl Brauer of edmunds.com when he says if Honda’s going diesel it’s time to pay attention.

You may think it’s ugly (it’s definitely not pretty, but I would like to have one), but it’s hard to argue with those specs. Maybe someday BMW will bring it over the pond and let us Americans play with it. Hopefully in the next week I’ll get back to my normal couple updates a day. Just been working ton lately.

From TimesOnline.co.uk

Imagine a car with more power than the most powerful Lotus Elise, with better acceleration and a higher top speed than the latest VW Golf GTI. Now imagine that same car using less fuel than the smallest-engined Ford Fiesta, while also emitting less CO2. That would seem straight out of science fiction.

But it’s not: the car exists and is in your local BMW showroom right now. It’s the 123d, I’ve just driven it and it’s every bit as incredible as its statistics suggest. So this is perhaps a strange time to restate my long-held feelings of hostility towards the BMW 1-series.

This is the Bio-Diesel Motorcycle Built by Michael Sturtz and the DieMotot Crew at the Crucible in West Oakland, CA. October 2006

This video shows the second test run where they get the beast up to 125mph.

Here’s another diesel we won’t see in the States at least for awhile. From DueMotori.com

A newly developed four-cylinder diesel engine, featuring third-generation common-rail fuel injection, will expand the successful BMW X3 model range in November. Widely lauded for its superior agility and driving dynamics, the BMW X3 now also offers top marks in its segment for fuel efficiency.

The new BMW X3 2.0d, which is being offered for the first time in Australia, is the second BMW model, following the recently updated 120d, to benefit from the new all-aluminium four-cylinder diesel.

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Check out this promo video of the new BMW 635d. While a very quiet car you can still hear the distinctive diesel sound as it idles and drives. Of course that’s only from the outside. When inside the car you can’t hear a peep. Definitely a quality ride and hopefully a future option for us in The States.

From autocar.co.uk

BMW is finally making a diesel-powered 6-series and, as you’d expect, it’s no 618d but a 282bhp, 155mph 635d.

The 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder diesel engine will be available in both the cabrio and coupe, where it promises 0-62mph in 6.3sec and 40.9mpg.

It’ll come with a six-speed auto ’box as standard, with steering wheel-mounted paddles for manual changes.

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A BMW auto engine, 1/2 a motorcycle, and a lot of creativity and power tools - The Crucible’s DieMoto is soon to be the world’s fastest Bio-Diesel Motorcycle.

This came from a UK newspaper so I’m assuming this is imperial gallons, meaning to us here in the States 72mpg equates to 87mpg which is outstanding! Not only is economy up, but emissions are better too. Hopefully one day they will cart this one across the ocean too.

From yorkpress.co.uk

BMW claims engine revisions to its Mini Cooper D planned for later this year will make the diesel hatch capable of an impressive 72.4 mpg.

The Cooper D is already BMW’s cleanest ever car, but the improvements to the 1560cc diesel unit will mean the car’s CO2 output will drop by nearly 12 per cent from 118g/kg to 104 g/km.

Combined fuel consumption will increase by nearly 13 per cent, from 64.2mpg.

The reduction in fuel usage and emissions will be achieved using a Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop Function and Switch Point Display package that will come at no extra cost.

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The BMW 3-series coupé was only launched recently and already we offer a sports program for the latest member of the 3-series family. As for all current BMW models with 3.0d engine, we will shortly be offering a diesel performance upgrade for the 3-series coupé.