Green propeller: Super frugal 520d

BMW says the new 520d EfficientDynamics is the most efficent 5 Series ever.

BMW says the new 520d EfficientDynamics is the most efficent 5 Series ever.

Published Jul 5, 2011

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In their efforts to make the Blue Propeller brand as green as possible, BMW has tweaked its 520d EfficientDynamics Sedan to the point where it can claim 10 percent lower fuel consumption and  emission than anything its class, without turning the car into a slug - but it can't cope with hot climates, admits BMW SA, so it won't be coming to South Africa.

Nevertheless, in colder climes, they're quoting 135kW and 380Nm (and 0-100 in a respectable 8.2sec ) from its two-litre turbodiesel on only 4.5 litres/100km and 119g/km of CO2 (look, Ma, no pollution tax!), thanks to auto stop-start, optimum gearshift indicator, brake energy regeneration, active aerodynamics, a longer final-drive ratio to reduce engine revs at highway speeds, and low rolling-resistance tyres on streamlined alloy rims.

The 520d EfficientDynamics also has a new Eco-Pro mode; a driver-activated switch resets engine mapping, throttle response, automatic gearshift points, and the amount of power used by electrical ancillaries including climate control and heated seats, for comfortable and economical driving at low speeds (ie the daily Commuter Crawl).

What we will be getting in South Africa, either in December 2011 or January 2012, are two new petrol 5 Series variants, the 520i and 528i. Each has a new four-cylinder engine with twin-scroll turbocharger, direct fuel-injection, variable valve timing and double-Vanos camshaft control.

The 520i develops 135kW at 5000rpm and 270Nm from 1250-4500rpm at a cost of only 6.4 litres/100km and less than 150g/km of CO2.

But, thanks to heavier boost and tweaked fuel-injection, the same engine kicks out 180kw from 5000-6500rpm and 350Nm from 1250-4800rpm in the 528i, taking it from 0-100 in 6.2sec while burning 6.5 litres/100km and spewing 152g/km of CO2.

Here already, without fanfare, is a comprehensively revised 535d, now producing 220kW; prices start from R748 500.

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