520d arrives in Australia

BMW is committed to offering a broad spread of diesel passenger cars in Australia. The latest diesel to join the range is the 520d -- also the least expensive 5 Series model BMW Australia has to offer.

Priced at $79,990, the 520d will undercut all other 5 Series models and assumes the position as the entry-level model for BMW's large car range. For a 'price leader', the 520d is respectably well equipped (more here).

A 2.0-litre all-alloy turbodiesel developing 125kW of power and 340Nm of torque, the 'new' engine is the same as that fitted to other BMW models, such as 120d and the X3 2.0d. In the 5 Series application, the engine returns a fuel economy figure for combined cycle testing as low as 6.1L/100km and produces CO2 emissions of 162g/km.

On the open road, fuel consumption is as low as 5.0L/100km and even around town, the 520d will still return a fuel figure of 8.1L/100km. BMW expects owners will be able to travel as far as 1150km on one tank of fuel.

The clean running and low fuel use are the result of careful attention to engine management and the adoption of a diesel particulate filter. Yet despite the green credentials, the new engine propels the 520d to 100km/h from a standing start in 8.6 seconds -- through a six-speed automatic transmission. That's about half a second quicker than the larger engined 523i.

The new diesel variant, it's claimed by BMW, can also reach a top speed of 223km/h.

The 520d, being the newest diesel to join the local BMW range, will lift sales of diesels, although take-up of BMW diesels by Aussies (approximately 20 per cent) falls a long way behind Europe, where half of all BMW sales are vehicles powered by compression ignition engines.

Watch out for our launch review of the 520d, coming soon.

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