The diesel engine is previous its prime as stricter emissions laws are forcing automakers to step by step drop oil-burners. BMW has already given up on promoting the M50d fashions with their quad-turbo inline-six diesels and we’re listening to the M340d received’t dwell to see one other technology. That mentioned, you possibly can nonetheless get a diesel engine in many of the automaker’s fashions, together with the brand new 5 Sequence.

Codenamed G60, the eighth iteration of the luxurious sedan is at present provided with a diesel engine solely as a 520d with or with out xDrive. Later this 12 months, BMW will add a stronger 540d that includes an inline-six engine and customary all-wheel drive. However how does the bottom 520d behave when being pushed to the utmost? This video shot on the Autobahn makes an attempt to reply the query.

The 520d is arguably probably the most boring variant of the 5 Sequence cash can purchase however it does excel in a single regard – gasoline consumption. BMW says it sips wherever between 5.1 to five.6 liters for each 62 miles (100 kilometers) it covers within the WLTP cycle, which is outstanding given the heft of the automobile. As a reminder, the brand new 5er is an enormous automobile, measuring simply over 5 meters lengthy and tipping the scales at 1,775 kg (3,913 lbs) for this 520d.

After all, you received’t be taking down any Nürburgring data for a sedan with the BMW 520d. Its 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine punches out almost 200 hp and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. This video shot on the German freeway places these numbers to the take a look at in a full-throttle acceleration. It runs out of puff after 124 mph (200 km/h) however finally will get as much as 140 mph (225 km/h). Since we talked about gasoline consumption earlier, the automobile drinks roughly 15 liters / 100 km at these speeds, which isn’t too shabby all issues thought of.

Many automakers – together with BMW – wish to make plug-in hybrids the brand new diesel by combining a gasoline engine with an electrical motor to ship diesel-like effectivity with none tradeoffs. The moment torque of the e-motor delivers the low-end grunt you’d count on from a diesel. Nonetheless, to maximise how frugal a PHEV may be, the battery pack should be charged to extend the electrical vary. Operating a PHEV with the battery depleted defeats the aim of getting a plug-in hybrid within the first place because you’re simply carrying round that further weight.

Supply: TEST DRIVE FREAK / YouTube