Quote:
Originally Posted by maswastage
I really hope BMW doesn't go the hybrid route. Hybrids are a marketing gimmick and are useless- they're slow, not terribly efficient, and still horrible for the environment because of their dirty batteries. Small diesels are the way to go until science comes up with the next big energy solution.
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Where have you been? BMW has an X6 and & 7 Series hybrids. Both are not slow by any means.
The issue with diesels is going to be with what happens to the catalysts. BMW is worried that the diesels will not be able to meet the next round of carbon emission regulations.
The other issue is that US consumers expect certain things from a luxury car and rough and noisy are not 2 of them. BMW redesigned the 3 liter diesel for the US market with numerous modifications (I have explained this before). They are having to do the same with the 4 cylinder and from a cost perspective they are debating if this makes sense.
I was at dinner with some high ranking BMWNA personnel last week and they said they are continuing to explore the feasibility of a 4 cylinder diesel from a cost perspective- will consumers spend $3-4k more for the diesel in a lower model vehicle. Ideally they want to bring it but there are a lot of things that must be done behind the scenes. It would come first in the X1.
The 123d is about as small as they would go in the US, due to revving and overall power delivery.
On a side note- we will be getting the 4 cylinder petrol turbo in development.