BMW launches low-CO2 316d: 118 g/km
BMW has decided to engage futher the European low-CO2 market segment with the launch of the BMW 316d. The 316d uses the same powertrain as the 116d and gets remarkably low CO2 emissions of just 118 g/km. In both cars, BMW uses a detuned version of its 4-cylinder 2.0 liter diesel engine, found in 18d, 20d and 23d iterations, depending on power. The difference between the 318d and the 316d isn't much, just lowered carbon dioxide levels of 5 g/km. That little drop can make a big difference for many European taxpayers, though, because in most countries, cars emitting less than 120g/km qualify for a tax bonus. There's a €700 bonus in France, no registration tax in Spain, and the lower VED B tax band in the UK. Of course, fuel consumption for the 316d is also reduced a bit, down to 4.5 l/100km (52mpg U.S.). What's the downside? The 316d starts at around €30,000 in France.
[Source: Le Blog Auto]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike!!ekiM 6:17PM (6/26/2009)
And the US still can't come to the party.
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Koos die Doos 7:41AM (6/27/2009)
FACT: German car makers have invested heavily in diesel technology.
Whenever there is an article on diesel as a feul, these manufacturers (BMW, Audi, Volkswagen) always point to the low CO2 imissions and overall ifficiency of these engines.
When they are asked about the benefits of plugin technology, they always seem to shoot it down and they continuously use the same old argument that PHEV's and EV's need electricity derived mainly from dirty coal and so their enviromental benefits are negligable.
The issue that is NEVER raised or discussed is: How much C02 is generated in the extraction of oil, the transportation to refineries, the actual manufacturing of diesel (as far as I know, to extract sulpher from diesel is very energy intensive), transportation from the refineries to the filling stations and then the combustion in the engine . Do the figures 118g/km take these factors into account?
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Mark 10:25AM (6/27/2009)
Well said, i think some senior board members will be for the axe in a number of years when VW finally smell the EV coffee and are left behind trying to sell diesels when oil is back at 150 a barrel.
The only way out would be to have biodiesel but this requires modifications to fuel filters and electric systems to heat the oil before starting. Biodiesel still isn't mainstream so VW is heading towards a brick wall.
Surely there must be some foresighted engineers in VW who are bashing their heads against the wall.
ale 3:15PM (6/27/2009)
who cares anyways, diesel technology works and until a green smart grid can be created, phevs dont solve a problem... that said electric will eventually make its way to fruition.
Frankbank 11:01AM (6/27/2009)
BMW will need to sell about 80% of their cars as this model in order to be legal to sell any cars in the US once the new regs are in place. BMW has the lowest fleet FE of any company selling in the US, and has paying fines for non-compliance for years. The new regs take away the BMW / Mercedes loophole.
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asus 11:45AM (6/27/2009)
Really? I didn' know that. You'd think BMW would do OK re CAFE because the 3 series is relatively fuel efficient. The 328i is rated at 18/28 but my 3 does over 30 on the hwy. It averages about 26 in total with mixed driving. And the majority of BMWs sold in the US are 328s...
But yeah, BMW would be smart to release 4 cyl deisels in the US. They are fun to drive and use a lot less gas.
EVdriver 6:15PM (6/28/2009)
Another lung cancer factory. Forget it.
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Phil 11:51AM (6/29/2009)
Mark: Biodiesel doesn't need heaters or special filters, just rubber components that can take it. You might be thinking of straight vegetable oil, which does need heaters.
Biodiesel is mainstream in many countries. It is available very widely in Germany and France. The only reason it is not more popular in other countries is that oil is currently too cheap to make it viable (even with fairly generous tax breaks).
Oil will have to be more expensive than $150 / barrel for VW to cry. When oil was that expensive, it was the VW diesel Golf (Rabbit) drivers getting 50 mpg who were smug!