BMW’s Petrol & Diesel Twin Turbo Six Cylinders Receive Ward’s Top 10 Best Engine Honor

Official release: BMW of North America yesterday accepted two 10 Best Engines awards from Ward’s Automotive Group. As the only double winner this year, two BMW twin-turbo inline-6 engines — one diesel and one gasoline — were elected to the 10 Best Engines list for the 2009 model year by the Ward’s panel of expert judges.

“These two awards are further testament that BMW’s EfficientDynamics engineering strategy is delivering the performance and efficiency that drivers expect today.” said Hans Hohenner, General Manager of Drivetrain Development for BMW Group. “Each of these very different engines brings to market new technologies that combine to create the highest-performing six-cylinder engines BMW has ever produced while delivering fuel efficiency that was previously unattainable.”

BMW’s gasoline 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged DOHC Inline-6 received a Ward’s 10 Best Engines honor for the third time since its introduction in the summer of 2006. The acclaimed engine now powers 11 BMW models in the US – from the 135i to the X6 xDrive35i Sports Activity Coupe. This 300-horsepower engine features twin low-mass turbochargers, High Precision Direct Injection and electrified accessory drives for an unbeatable blend of power, efficiency, and responsiveness. As an example, this engine propels the BMW 335i coupe from rest to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds (manual transmission) yet delivers an EPA-estimated highway mileage of 26 mpg.

The second Ward’s 10 Best Engines honor for BMW was awarded to the new 50-state BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance technology. Featuring all-aluminum construction, this light-weight 3.0-liter Sequential Turbo DOHC Advanced Diesel inline-6 offers V-8 performance on four-cylinder consumption: 265 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque, with EPA efficiency figures of 23 (city) and 36 (highway) in the 2009 BMW 335d Sedan, which is capable of 0 – 60mph in just 6.0 seconds. In addition to the 335d model mentioned, this new engine will also be available in the X5 xDrive35d Sports Activity Vehicle, which is capable of 0 – 60mph in 6.9 seconds and 26mpg on the highway. Both Advanced Diesel models will be in BMW centers later this month.