BMW Done With Diesel, Will Focus On PHEVs Instead

Despite their overall popularity in foreign markets such as Europe, diesel engines never really caught on in the US with hybrids dominating as the top choice for eco-conscious buyers. After Dieselgate, it wasonly a matter of time before automakers called it quits on diesel engines in the US. And according toMotor Authority, BMW has now given up on diesel and will turn its focus towards hybrids.

BMW spokesperson Alexander Schmuck said, "we are putting all our eggs in the PHEV basket," as thebrand announced the new X5 xDrive45e iPerformance model. Schmuck added that the upcoming plug-in hybrid X5 should return around 40 miles of electric driving range, which is a huge improvement over the current model's 14-mile range. Along with the increased range, the X5 plug-in will switch from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder to a 3.0-liter inline-six, combining with electric motors to produce 394 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque.