BMW.SG | BMW Singapore Owners Community The Ultimate BMW Community – Established Since 2001
Evolving emissions regulations are steering car manufacturers away from diesel engines. BMW, aligning with these standards, has ceased promoting its M50d vehicles equipped with quad-turbo inline-six diesel engines. Additionally, there’s speculation that a new generation won’t succeed the M340d model. However, BMW continues offering diesel engines in most of its lineup. This includes the latest 5 Series release, showcasing a commitment to innovation and tradition.
Currently, the eighth generation of BMW’s premium sedan, the G60, is exclusively offered as a 520d. It comes with an optional xDrive featuring a diesel engine. Later this year, BMW plans to unveil the more robust 540d, boasting an inline-six engine and a standard all-wheel drive. But what’s the performance peak of the base 520d? A film shot on the Autobahn seeks to explore this very question.
The 520d might be the least exciting model in the 5 Series range, yet it excels in fuel efficiency. BMW reports that considering the car’s weight, it consumes just 5.1 to 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres (62 miles) in the WLTP cycle. Remember, the new 5er is a sizable vehicle, stretching over five meters long and weighing 1,775 kg (3,913 lbs) in this 520d variant.
The BMW 520d, powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine with 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque and roughly 200 horsepower, may not be a Nürburgring record-setter. A video on a German highway tests its limits in a high-speed run. It tops out at 140 mph (225 km/h), but its power wanes at 124 mph (200 km/h). Notably, at such speeds, its fuel consumption is about 15 litres per 100 kilometres, a reasonably efficient rate.
BMW and other automakers are pivoting to plug-in hybrids as alternatives to diesel, combining electric motors and gasoline engines for optimal efficiency. These hybrids offer immediate torque, similar to diesel engines. However, regular charging is essential to maximize their electric range; otherwise, driving a plug-in hybrid with an uncharged battery counteracts its efficiency advantages.
