Yesterday, BMW of North America accepted the Ward’s 10 Best Engines award for its groundbreaking 3.0-liter BMW Advanced Diesel engine at the North American International Auto Show. For the 2010 model year and the second year in a row, BMW’s sequential twin-turbo inline-6 diesel engine was elected to the 10 Best Engines list by the Ward’s AutoWorld panel of expert judges. To win a place on the 10 Best Engines list, an engine must score highly in measures of horsepower, torque, refinement, technical relevance, and comparative data.

“When we accepted this award last year for BMW’s then-new Advanced Diesel engine, no one could predict for certain how Americans would adopt BMW Diesel in the coming months,” said Hans Hohenner, General Manager of Drivetrain Development for BMW Group. “Now, I’m pleased to say that the Advanced Diesel inline-6 powered 30 percent of all BMW X5 models sold in the United States in December 2009. Americans are discovering the magic of new-generation Diesels, and compared to only a year ago, Diesel has gained fantastic momentum in the marketplace.”

Featuring all-aluminum construction, BMW’s 3.0-liter sequential twin-turbo Advanced Diesel inline-6 offers V-8 performance with four-cylinder fuel efficiency: 265 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque. EPA efficiency figures are 23 (city) / 36 (highway) in the 2010 BMW 335d Sedan, which is capable of 0 - 60mph in 6.0 seconds or better.  Those figures make the 335d Sedan the fastest diesel-powered passenger car available in the US. It is also the most fuel efficient vehicle BMW has ever sold here. In addition to the 335d Sedan, this BMW Advanced Diesel engine is available in the 
X5 xDrive35d Sports Activity Vehicle, which is capable of 0 - 60mph in 6.9 seconds and 26 mpg on the highway.