BMW is generating a substantial push to expand its diesel sales in the U.S., possessing added an oil-burner choice to the 3-series, 5-series, and, most recently, the 7-series and X3. But it appears as although BMW’s efforts are not paying off in the vehicle models—at least not yet. The automaker’s U.S. CEO, Ludwig Willisch, is less than impressed by sales of the diesel-powered 3-series and 5-series, and told us so in a current interview.
According to Willisch, “The 328d is promoting so-so, the 5-series is a bit disappointing.” He added: “These are nevertheless early days, and low fuel costs haven’t helped diesel technologies.”
The executive is much more upbeat about BMW’s diesel-powered SUVs, saying that he is satisfied with the diesel take rate in the X5 lineup and is “quite positive that the X3 diesel will do effectively.” He is referring, of course, to the new-for-2015 X3 xDrive28d, which boasts an attractive—for a luxury crossover—34-mpg EPA highway rating. In our testing, the diesel-powered X3 returned 28 mpg, a substantial 5 mpg better than we recorded in a 2013 X3 with the base gas-fed turbocharged 2.-liter 4 we tested last year.
Moving on to the subject of the proliferation of new BMW models and body variations, Willisch denied the automaker’s lineup is becoming confusing. Speaking to a single distinct instance, the 3-series sedan–aping 4-series Gran Coupe, Willisch said: “We will be genuinely happy to have the 4-series Gran Coupe since it will attract consumers that so far have have not looked at sedans.” That may possibly be correct, but then who is the 3-series Gran Turismo for?
As for manual transmissions, Willisch is not ready however to speak about the future of the stick in the M5 and M6. These models’ U.S. consumers have really championed the retention of the manual option, even though the rest of the globe is content material with automatics. Willisch’s only comment: “They nevertheless have a life cycle of yet another 4 years.” On the flip side of the identical coin, manual transmissions are deemed an integral element of the M3 and M4 heritage everywhere. But apart from the M models, the manual take price in standard 3- and 4-series cars is low, “in the low a single digits,” Willisch revealed.
We’re not quite very good at hiding our support of diesels and manual transmissions—don’t overlook to save ‘em!—but for now it seems BMW is backing both. That said, it in the end is on the client to make a decision the fate of the diesel and the manual, so let’s hope they make the appropriate choice.
BMW USA Chief Ludwig Willisch on Diesels, Manuals, and Body-Style Proliferation
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