3.5 Twin turbo in X5, when?

[Wagner]

I don't think the TT motor will go in the X5. Doesn't make sense to me (of course I'm no automobile expert). The V8 used now produces more power and is used throughout the BMW lineup. IMO you will see the diesel X5 in the states long before a TT one. The TT motor makes less horsepower and less torque, what would be the point? Unless your thought is BMW will replace all I6's with the TT.

[TRAINER]

Originally Posted by chris24

any word on the price of that?

Didn't hear anything on price. BMW needs to step up to the plate quickly though if they want to compete with the MB AMG ML and Porsche TT-S.

[grover432]

Originally Posted by WagnerX5

I don't think the TT motor will go in the X5. Doesn't make sense to me (of course I'm no automobile expert). The V8 used now produces more power and is used throughout the BMW lineup. IMO you will see the diesel X5 in the states long before a TT one. The TT motor makes less horsepower and less torque, what would be the point? Unless your thought is BMW will replace all I6's with the TT.

So why did they put it in the 5 series? That series has a V8 as well. I'm betting it will show up in the next year or so. The 3.0 is underpowered for the highway (in my opinion).

[JCL]

Originally Posted by grover432

So why did they put it in the 5 series? That series has a V8 as well. I'm betting it will show up in the next year or so. The 3.0 is underpowered for the highway (in my opinion).

Less weight than the V8, less internal friction, better fuel economy, and the twin turbo design allows for the power only when it is required, meaning that in the real world the fuel economy gain is even higher.

I don't think that the 3.0 is underpowered, but with all the current focus on more power, the twin turbo makes more sense than a V8.

I agree that the 3.0 twin turbo gasoline engine will show up in the X series, likely the X3 as well as the X5. The V8 won't fit in the X3, and the abundance of torque at low revs suits the heavier vehicles very well.

[vinuneuro]

I wonder how they're going to handle the I6-tt and V8 in models that use both those engines. There really won't be any incentive to get the V8, unless they seriously bump it's power as well.

[grover432]

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

I wonder how they're going to handle the I6-tt and V8 in models that use both those engines. There really won't be any incentive to get the V8, unless they seriously bump it's power as well.

There is a serious increase in power between the 2 units, don't you think. I believe the TT has 300HP and the 4.8 has 350HP. The 4.8 can easily be upgraded as the 550 has 360HP. I would think a 60HP difference would be significant to most.

On a related topic, a 3.5TT would be perfect in Canada (not that BMW cares much about this market as compared to the USA). The recent federal budget means that a 3.0 will not attract a gas guzzler tax, while the 4.8 will attract a $1,000 tax (based on BMW's published consumption ratings). The TT might just make it under the 13l/100KM line and avoid the tax.

[LeMansX5]

X6(coming in early 2008) has bi-turbo V8 and it will eventually move to X5 as well.
Right now BMW is concentrating on having the BER and "Stop & Go" features available across all model line-up as part of "BMW efficient dynamics" campaign. 3-series will get that feature in fall this year with new HPI I4 and I6 engines.

[TRAINER]

That's what I'm talking about!

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by grover432

There is a serious increase in power between the 2 units, don't you think. I believe the TT has 300HP and the 4.8 has 350HP. The 4.8 can easily be upgraded as the 550 has 360HP. I would think a 60HP difference would be significant to most.

On a related topic, a 3.5TT would be perfect in Canada (not that BMW cares much about this market as compared to the USA). The recent federal budget means that a 3.0 will not attract a gas guzzler tax, while the 4.8 will attract a $1,000 tax (based on BMW's published consumption ratings). The TT might just make it under the 13l/100KM line and avoid the tax.

As of now, there is no way to get any decent gains from BMW's 4.8. Who cares about a 60hp peak difference. The 3.0 twin turbo rules as far what really counts..the curve. If the current 4.8 is up against the 3.0tt, it doesn't have any advantage whatsoever when you consider it's very very marginal output advantage and worse fuel economy. Factor in the extra cost, and the 3.0tt X5 would win no questions asked.