- 1 Series line-up grows to five with arrival of 120d.
- 2.0-litre diesel has 115 kW at 4,000 rpm and 330 Nm at 2,000 rpm.
- Most powerful engine in its class.
- Fuel consumption of 6.6-litres per 100 km (EU Combined).
- Priced from $47,800 with standard six-speed Steptronic automatic.
- On sale from May 2006.
BMW Group Australia has introduced another diesel model to its growing range
of compression ignition cars.
The 2.0-litre fitted in the 120d is the first four-cylinder diesel BMW has
offered in Australia.
The BMW 120d joins its fellow diesel stable mates, the 530d, X3 3.0d and X5
3.0d. In June, BMW will launch the 320d Sedan, using the same 115 kW engine.
The BMW 320d was crowned 2006 Car of the Year by the authoritative British
publication 'What Car?¡¯
BMW Group Australia¡¯s expansion of its diesel line-up has been the result the
availability of low-sulphur diesel that blends perfectly with the
high-technology BMW diesel engines and the growth in demand for diesel power
plants.
In Australia, the overall passenger diesel segment has grown significantly
over the past few years. In 2004 1,885 diesel passenger cars were sold
throughout Australia but in 2005 demand rocketed with around 6,800 diesel
passenger vehicles sold, representing an increase of 260 percent in just one
year.
Diesel technology boasts more advantages than just fuel efficiency.
With their immense pulling power and a well-balanced delivery, modern diesel
engines play an important role in ensuring driving dynamics and comfort for the
BMW driver.
BMW has made the most of the technological potential of this engine and
optimised it for use in the BMW 1 Series.
Importantly too, the arrival of the 2.0-litre diesel power plant has been
utilised with the overall driving dynamics of the 1 Series at the forefront of
BMW thinking.
The arrangement of the longitudinally mounted engine with the centre of
gravity behind the front axle makes a significant contribution towards achieving
an ideal weight distribution. Clearly such attention to driving dynamics ensures
the BMW 120d offers superior agility and performance to put it at the top of its
class.
The BMW 120d is available with a standard six-speed Steptronic automatic
gearbox that allows fully automatic or sequential manual operation.
Engine: Dynamically efficient refined excellence.
The supremely smooth BMW 120d is a true sporting diesel, in keeping with the
dynamic driving demands of BMW owners.
The 2.0-litre diesel engine in the BMW 120d is synonymous with
state-of-the-art engine design.
Featuring BMW¡¯s second-generation Common-Rail technology as well as an
exhaust gas turbocharger with variable turbine geometry, this outstanding
four-cylinder is at the top of its class in terms of pure driving pleasure.
With a displacement of 1,995 cc, this engine develops a muscular 115 kW at
4,000 rpm with an exceptionally beefy torque output of 330 Nm produced at just
2,000 rpm.
The powerful turbo-diesel endows the BMW 120d with an output utilisation of
57.5 kW per litre of displacement, proof of the technically advanced development
of the engine.
Not surprisingly, this high-tech machine has no trouble producing the type of
performance worthy of a sports car.
The BMW 120d will sprint to 100 km/h in just 8.5 seconds and has a maximum
top speed, where permitted, of 215 km/h.
Although outright speed is academic in most circumstances, the BMW 120d
delivers an immense surge of power just above idle, allowing for quick
point-to-point performance.
Such a low-down delivery of power and torque enables the BMW 120d to compete
in the cut-and-thrust of every-day city traffic, or ensure relaxed highway
driving.
State-of-the-art technology.
The exceptional power of the BMW 120d is delivered via a modified
second-generation common rail system with a pressure of 1,600 bar. This
high-tech system is mainly responsible for superior acceleration, excellent
dynamics, and outstanding economy.
A common rail system facilitates fast fuel injection and vaporisation,
directly resulting in increased performance and lower fuel consumption.
As fuel is injected up to four times during each cycle (double pilot
injection, main injection and after-injection), an optimum balance between
performance and acoustics is achieved. While the double pilot injection
facilitates a smooth and more balanced combustion process, after-injection
improves particle oxidation, thereby reducing toxic emissions.
Because of the higher compression, diesel engines are more efficient than
petrol engines of the same size. An example of this is the much cooler
temperature of the exhaust system on a diesel car as much less energy is lost in
the compression process compared to a petrol engine.
The additional torque generated by the engine allows for a lower revving
engine, with torque levels equivalent to a V8 engine. In the case of the
4-cylinder diesel, it has comparable torque levels to a high-performance
6-cylinder petrol engine.
The diesel engine¡¯s greater efficiency also means less harmful emissions. The
latest generation diesels are friendlier to the environment as they produce less
carbon dioxide emissions, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.
The diesel engine in the BMW 120d is also more heavily reinforced to handle
the higher combustion pressures needed for ignition. This, coupled with lower
engine speeds, makes the diesel more durable, with a potentially longer life.
The BMW 120d features a new generation of turbocharger with variable turbine
geometry, electric adjustment, optimised blade geometry, intercooler technology
and the use of ultra-rigid, lightweight material to further improve the
effectiveness of the turbine and turbocharger compressor.
EU 4 (for diesel engines) compliance was further aided by the new-generation
turbocharger, optimising exhaust gas recirculation, positioning the lambda probe
in front of the catalytic converter and swirl valves in the intake unit, which
all culminated in making the BMW 120d one of the cleanest and most economical
diesels in its segment.
This is a clear example of how BMW is able to combine sporting qualities with
economy and environmental compatibility.
It is because of these features that the BMW 120d can be regarded as a true
enthusiast machine thanks to its superior performance and powerful acceleration
in all conditions.
Combined cycle efficiency returns 6.6 L/100km, while highway touring will
also further improve fuel consumption to just 5.5l/100 km. With a 51 litre fuel
tank, this gives the BMW 120d a touring range of more than 900 km.
The BMW 120d is a state-of-the-art power plant and excels due to its refined
running smoothness. Electronic engine noise control and balancer shafts have
reduced engine vibration to an absolute minimum.
So low are the diesel combustion noise levels that the driver and passengers
have an impression that there is a conventional petrol engine under the bonnet.
The engine incorporates common rail injection with the following features:
- Weight optimised crankcase.
- Balance shafts in separate housing.
- Oil pump flange mounted on the balance shaft housing.
- Inlet and exhaust camshafts connected by spur gears.
- More pressure-resistant piston with optimised piston crown bowls and brass
bearings for piston pins.
- Modified oil spray nozzles.
- Glow system.
- High pressure pump with 1,600 bar and flow regulating valve.
Quick off the mark: In all weather.
The quiet-running BMW 120d power plant is also barely noticeable at start up
even when cold. The engine will start easily, even at 20¢ªC below zero, so the
BMW will remain unperturbed by the harsh Australian climate.
The quick-start glow plugs begin their work as soon as the driver opens the
door, and do not wait until the starter button is pressed. The system
incorporates six-volt glow plugs which are heated only at the tip to maximum
temperature.
Thanks to the convenient start function, the starter button only needs to be
pressed once to start the engine. The control of the starting procedure then
continues automatically until the engine fires.
Complementing the high-tech engine is a superb six-speed automatic
transmission, with ratios matched to the BMW 120d¡¯s impressive performance
figures.
120d interior: All the comfort, luxury and safety of a BMW.
The BMW 120d seats five, offering high levels of comfort. With its split
folding rear seats and a luggage compartment capacity expandable from 330 litres
to 1,150 litres, depending on the rear seat position, the car is well equipped
to cope with the demands of modern life.
Like the rest of the 1 Series range, the BMW 120d offers a remarkably high
level of active and passive safety as well as a sophisticated suspension system.
The BMW 120d boasts an aluminium double-joint tension-rod axle at the front
and a lightweight steel five-link rear suspension.
A host of driver aids are delivered via Automatic Stability Control and
Traction (ASC+T) Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Dynamic Traction Control
(DTC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Dynamic Brake Control, (DBC), Cornering
Brake Control (CBC) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD).
Features such as front fog lights, central locking with remote control, front
arm rest, three-point seat belt for the third rear passenger including headrest,
sports leather, multi-function steering wheel, automatic climate control with
micro filter, on-board computer, outside temperature display, AM/FM radio with
in-dash CD player and60/40 split fold rear seats are all standard.
Also standard are 17-inch ¡°V¡± spoke BMW alloy wheels with safety tyres,
rain-sensor including automatic headlight control, BMW sports seats including
seat width adjustment, cruise control, Titanium Matt interior trim and storage
compartment package which includes nets on the rear of the front seats, 12-volt
socket in the luggage compartment, luggage compartment net, two lashing eyes and
driver¡¯s side roof grab handle.
The BMW 120d automatic is priced from $47,800.
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