Audi BMW

Looking at the December sales numbers for BMW, we can clearly see an ascending trend of diesel vehicles sold in the United States. Official numbers showed that one out of three X5s sold were represented by the xDrive35d model. Last summer, the $4,500 Eco-Credit has also helped boost the sales for the two diesel offerings with most of the dealers running out of 3 Series diesel sedans.

Back in September, in an interview with Automotive News, Jim O’Donnell, CEO of BMW North America, has reiterated that BMW remains committed to its diesel strategy in the U.S. even if more hybrid vehicles will emerge in the near future. As far as future plans, BMW is hoping for 10%-20% diesel penetration in U.S and also the introduction of new diesel vehicles on the market. The one mentioned by Mr. O’Donnell was a diesel variant of the next generation 5 Series, but unfortunately, no other news along that line have been released since.

In the mean time, those of us looking for a sporty luxury sedan, we will have to settle for the 335d model. The fellows at MotorTrend are enjoying their long-term loaner and decided to check in with their readers at 1,300 miles. Let’s find out their impressions….

“So what are you doing here?” says the polite Border Patrol officer after he’s checked our Green Cards, and had a look in the 335d’s trunk to make sure we weren’t transporting illegal immigrants. “We’re on vacation,” I reply. His eyebrows arch: “In Yuma?!” Yeah, yeah, we know…

The 358 mile Tucson to Yuma leg has returned our best mileage so far — an average of 34.1 mpg. Yuma also proved diesel fuel is more consistently priced in Arizona than gas. We’ve paid $2.69 a gallon for each of the last three tanks, while regular gas has varied from $2.23 to $2.49 a gallon and premium from $2.53 to $2.75 a gallon. (Back in LA our initial $2.99 a gallon tank of diesel cost 20c a gallon less than regular and 38c a gallon less than premium.)
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We make LA later that afternoon. After four days and 1304miles on the road, the BMW 335d has averaged 32mpg without any special eco-driving. It grunts like a V-8 — shrugging off steep climbs and surging past slow-moving traffic with the merest wriggle of your right foot — yet it sips fuel almost like a four. This might be a compact car, but it’s capable of crossing a continent in giant leaps — based on our experience the 335d will easily go 515 miles between fuel stops. Driver and passenger are likely to need refueling first.

Full review continued

P.S. We can only speculate at the moment, but we feel confident that a 5 Series diesel will make it to the U.S. market the latest next year.

Jonathan Spira over at The Diesel Driver continues its quest in the diesel world and this week, he gives us a full review on the 2010 BMW X5 xDrive35d. Those of you that remember, the same model served as transportation method for us on our trip to Spartanburg and after thousands of miles, we were more impressed with it than any other SAV we’ve driven before.

Does TDD share a similar experience? Let’s find out.

“We took the X5 xDrive35d on a variety of trips, from local errands to long drives along scenic and windy parkways. The view from the driver’s seat was impressive. We found it true to BMW’s Freude am Fahren (the Joy of Driving) slogan whether on city streets or the open road. This was one large vehicle but it was eminently floggable nonetheless.

Besides performance, in diesel guise the X5 has a significant price advantage over its petrol-powered V-8 stablemate. The diesel X5 starts at $52,175 (the V-8 starts at $57,175) and is eligible for BMW’s $4500 Eco Credit, making the actual cost a very attractive $47,675. On top of that the buyer is entitled to an $1800 tax credit and the knowledge that the diesel X5 can travel close to 600 miles on a tank of fuel, about 30% farther than the V-8.

(In fairness, it must be mentioned that the petrol-powered twin turbo X5 xDrive30i gets 21 mpg and sells for $48,475, only $800 more than the cost of the diesel X5.)”

Full complete review at The Diesel Driver

BMW North America and BMW Financial Services are going green with their latest sweepstakes, and by going green, we’re refering to the ultimate prize offered: a 2010 BMW X5 xDrive35d.

There are a couple of important restrictions: 1. North America customers only and 2. Customers that purchased or leased their car through BMW Financial Services.

Here are all the remaining details and good luck to everyone:

Simply sign in to My Account and you could win:

• A trip for two to the 2010 BMW Championship in Chicago, IL
• A brand-new 2010 BMW X5 Advanced Diesel
• A trip to the BMW Performance Driving School
• BMW Lifestyle Collection Merchandise

You will automatically be entered in the sweepstakes if you:

• Log in to your account at least once prior to January 31, 2010

You will automatically earn up to 4 additional entries if you:

• Elect to sign up for online monthly statements
• Make a payment online or have your payment automatically deducted from your bank account for the months of November 2009 through January 2010

North American car shows season is just around the corner and journalists across the country are gathering to rank the top automobiles in 2010.

2010 North American Car of the Year top starts with an extensive list of vehicles, but as time progresses, some are being eliminated. On the initial list, BMW was represented by the BMW Z4, X5 xDrive35d, 335d and the new 5 Series GT. After the initial round, three out of four have been eliminated, but the 3 Series sedan diesel continues the race.

BMW has been out of the American diesel market for around 20 years now and they marked their return last  year with the  twin-sequential-turbocharged 3.0L diesel engine for the newly refreshed 335. BMW’s first 50-state-legal diesel delivers 265 hp at 4220 rpm, and an all too fun 425 lb-ft of torque between 1750 and 2250 rpm. Driving through a six-speed automatic transmission, this engine will propel the 335d from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 sec while delivering 23 mpg city and 36 mpg on the highway.

The 335d finds itself in the company of some other great cars and it will be difficult to anticipate who advances further, and even harder to predict the big winner.

The 2010 North American Car of the Year Short List:

• Buick LaCrosse
• Cadillac CTS
• Chevrolet Camaro
• Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid
• Ford Taurus
• Honda Insight
• Kia Soul
• Mazda3/MazdaSpeed3
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Porsche Panamera
• Subaru Legacy
• Suzuki Kizashi
• Toyota Prius
• Volkswagen Golf/GTI

The 2010 North American Truck of the Year Short List:

• Acura ZDX
• Audi Q5
• Cadillac SRX
• Chevrolet Equinox
• Ford Transit Connect
• Honda Crosstour
• Land Rover LR4
• Lincoln MKT
• Subaru Outback
• Volvo XC60

[Source: MotorAuthority ]

To mark the X5’s 10th birthday, BMW has launched a special edition version of the popular SAV. The model chose this time was the xDrive35d, the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight-six diesel with 286 horsepower.

The 10-Year Edition X5 features a new special Sophisto Grey metallic paint finish, panoramic glass sunroof and 20-inch wheels with a matte aluminum paint.

Inside, the X5 10-Year Edition gets an upgraded Nappa leather and Piano Black trim. Commemorative engraving can be found inside as well, on the sill plates and on the dashboard.

BMW will manufacture 2,000 unites distributed worldwide with about 10% assigned to the UK market with a target price of £53,075.

BMW is stepping up their marketing efforts in promoting and bringing upfront their diesel technology in the U.S. BMW sells the 335d sedan and X5 xDrive35d to the American consumers and these two vehicles are part of the “EfficientDynamics” program.

The marketing campaign will focus on print and online media, but also on cable TV. Since their launch late last year, the BMW diesel sales in the U.S. have been slow, but the latest reports indicate that the $4,500 rebate will push the sales up.

A new campaign breaking Sunday from BMW will attempt to change Americans’ long-held perception that diesel fuel is a dirty word, Anthony Crupi reports. It’s all part of an “EfficientDynamics” initiative promoting BMW’s 335d sedan and X5 xDrive35d crossover on cable TV, in print and online.

On Sunday, Aug. 16, the first of two 30-second diesel spots will appear during the season-three premiere of AMC’s original drama series, Mad Men. BMW is the exclusive sponsors of the show.

According to Brandweek, the spots will follow these scenarios:

Each of the new spots begins in darkness. In a voiceover, actor Brian Unger tells viewers: “Americans are always finding ways to be more responsible,” at which point, a canopy of energy efficient lightbulbs begin to illuminate the scene. Flanked by a milk-white 335d sedan and an equally clean X5, Unger pitches viewers on BMW’s “commitment to lower emissions while enhancing the thrill of the drive.” The spot ends with Unger promising that BMW drivers will “find responsibility quite exhilarating.”

A second spot echoes the first, only in this execution, Unger reveals that BMW is offering a “$4500 eco credit,” or rebate, on the 335d and X5 diesel. That offer is valid through Aug. 31.

In addition to the Mad Men premiere, the BMW commercials will appear on other television as well: Bravo’s Top Chef Las Vegas and Top Chef Masters; TNT original dramas The Closer, Leverage and Dark Blue; Travel Channel’s Man v. Food and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations; Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild and Mythbusters; and the Sept. 22 season finale of Syfy’s Warehouse 13.

Patric McKenna, manager of marketing communications at BMW, talks about the campaign: “One of the things our research showed us is that affluent Americans don’t want to sacrifice performance for fuel efficiency”. As we have seen in our own 335d and X5d test drives, the new diesel technology has really narrowed the gap between the gasoline powered engine and diesel powerplants. Some power is being sacrificed, but the increased torque makes for a fun and powerful drive.

An interested slogan will be used on one of the banners that will appear on several large online publications: “Mr President, perhaps we can be of some assistance”.

[Source: Brandweek ]