If a full-size luxury sedan with diesel power is your thing, you will soon be able to add the BMW 7-Series to your list in the U.S., positioning it right next to the Audi A8L 3.0 TDI, which is the only other oil-burner in this category offered in the States at this time.
The 2014 BMW 740Ld xDrive will debut at the Chicago Auto Show next month and hit retailers across the United States in the spring with a starting price of $83,425, including $925 destination and handling. That’s a $1,500 premium over the 740Li xDrive with a 315hp 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six gasoline engine.
For its motivation, the exclusively all-wheel drive 740Ld xDrive utilizes the same 3.0-liter force-fed six found in the 535d models, cranking out 255hp at 4,000 rpm and 413 lb-ft of torque from 1,500 – 3,000 rpm.
The unit is mated to a standard 8-speed automatic transmission, and according to BMW, it will accelerate the car from 0-60 mph (96km/h) in 6.1 seconds (740Li xDrive: 5.4 seconds).
Fuel economy estimates are not yet available, but BMW states that, as with other models equipped with this diesel engine, it expects a “25 to 30 percent improvement” over a six-cylinder gasoline-powered 7-Series.
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