BMW 540d xDrive here by year’s end

BMW’s turbo-diesel 540d xDrive AWD sedan will be here by the end of the year joining the Bavarian manufacturer’s fully electric i5 Series large luxury sedans and Touring (wagon) and petrol/mild hybrid powered 520i 2.0-litre turbo RWD sedan with a fully electric i5 M60 xDrive Touring due around the same time as the new turbo-diesel sedan.

A high performance V8 twin turbo M5 Touring PHEV is on BMW Australia’s wish list.

No pricing details on the G60 generation 540d sedan are available this far out from launch suffice to say the 520i is a $114,900 proposition excluding on-road costs and options meaning the better equipped 540d will be more, tipped to be pitched around the same price as i5eDrive 40 BEV that lists for $155,900 excluding on roads.

At this stage it appears BMW Australia has no plans to introduce a Touring version of the 540d nor a bowser beating 520d, 2.0-litre turbo diesel four cylinder available overseas.

In Australia no other manufacturer offers a turbo diesel powered competitor in the large passenger car segment as all are either petrol, petrol/electric hybrid or full electric.

Power in the 540d comes from a TwinPower 3.0-litre straight six turbo-diesel with an integrated 48-volt mild hybrid motor/generator system and battery for optimum efficiency to produce a worthy 223kW and 670Nm. Drive is to all wheels through a six-speed conventional automatic transmission.

This set-up allows the large turbodiesel luxury sedan to clock a 0-100km/h sprint in a respectable 5.2 seconds (nearly 2.5 seconds faster than the 520i) and record an estimated combined fuel consumption of 5.8 - 6.3L/100km based on European test figures.

According to BMW info’ the mild hybrid system performs multiple functions including serving as a starter motor, delivering boost of up to 13kW and 200Nm to the engine and recuperating kinetic energy under braking for conversion into electrical energy.

“The impressive powertrain combines with a high level of specification, technology and luxury features that mark the eighth generation BMW 5 Series,” says BMW.

The Aussie spec’ 540d will feature the sporty-looking M Sport Package as standard which includes 20-inch alloy wheels to provide a purposeful stance as well as aiding dynamics and ride quality. Metallic duco is standard.

BMW lists exterior highlights including its Iconic Glow illuminated kidney grille surrounds and adaptive LED headlights with matrix high-beam and blue design elements that give the model a distinctive le styling signature particularly in low light conditions.

Cabin features, design and comfort levels are derived from the larger 7 Series luxury flagship and include the latest BMW Operating System 8.5, also in the petrol and fully electric 5 Series variants already available.

BMW says the OS “delivers an intuitive experience for the driver when interacting with various vehicle functions”.

On top of all that, the 540d scores additional standard equipment that includes “sumptuous” leather Merino upholstery, and a 655-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system.

Pricing and full specification details for the BMW 540d xDrive will be announced in July, with customer vehicles set to arrive in the Australia by Q4 this year.