BMW Confirms Return of 5 Series Diesel for 2018
CARS.COM — BMW has confirmed that it will bring back a diesel version of the redesigned 5 Series for 2018, according to a report by Car and Driver.
Related: 2017 BMW 5 Series Preview
BMW is rolling out the new seventh generation of the 5 Series over the 2017 and 2018 model years, with the conventional sedan unveiled in January at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It just showed the higher-efficiency 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid in April at the 2017 New York International Auto Show.
Now comes word that the lineup will get a higher-mileage diesel version for 2018 as well, the 540d. Although the report, confirmed by a company representative, provided no more details, it speculated that the 540d will be a U.S. version of the European 530d, which has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six diesel.
The previous-generation 5 Series had a diesel model, the 535d. And BMW offers a diesel for the 2017 3 Series and X5. But the future for diesels in the U.S. has been in doubt since the Volkswagen-Audi-Porsche diesel scandal and subsequent stepped-up EPA scrutiny of diesels. Mercedes-Benz and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have not gotten EPA approval to sell their 2017 diesel models.
Others have stayed in the market, however. Mazda and Chevrolet have new diesels on the way. And luxury rival Jaguar Land Rover continues to have success with several models, including with about 15 percent of flagship Range Rover and Range Rover Sport sales with diesels.
