BMW diesels just want to have fun (and save fuel)

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California hasn’t seen a new car with a diesel engine since 1983. But it might be time to start hitching up those jacket sleeves again and dragging that Cyndi Lauper CD out of retirement. Diesels are back and they’ve cleaned up their act -- to the point of meeting the state’s tough emissions requirements.

The latest manufacturer to climb on the oil-burning bandwagon is BMW. Mercedes-Benz has already brought out its E320 Bluetec sedan. Meanwhile, Volkswagen is hoping that diesel will fuel its resurgence of fortunes here in the States.

This may sound as if BMW is a Johnny-come-lately to the low-sulfur party, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Europeans have seen many advances in diesel technology and rate BMW highly, to the point of bestowing numerous Engine of the Year awards upon the company. The 1983 524d was the fastest diesel sedan of its time. And the engine we will soon see is its 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged straight-6. It will go into a version of the 3-Series (the 335d), the neophyte X6 (the X6 xDrive 35d) and the X5 SUV (the X5 xDrive 35d). It features something called BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance.

Behind the marketing jargon is an aluminum engine (diesels of old had to be made out of heavier cast iron), 265 horsepower and a muscular torque figure of 425 pound-feet. This will propel a 335d to 60 mph in a whisker over six seconds yet provide fuel economy figures of 23/33 mpg city/highway. For comparison, a gasoline-powered 335i hauls to 60 mph about half a second quicker but drinks fuel to the tune of 17/29 mpg.

The 335d and the X5 xDrive 35d will be available in the fall. When crude oil will probably be $150 a barrel.

-- Colin Ryan