This has been a slightly screwy year for introduction of new model year BMWs. Normally by October, new model year vehicles are in place and that’s the case for most BMWs. Just about every type of BMW listed on BMWUSA.com is a model year 2017 version, with two notable exceptions.
The 5 Series Sedans currently available are still the F10 2016 models. The new 2017 G30 5 Series Sedans have just been revealed. They probably will not be officially launched until January and might be in dealer showrooms as soon as February. A 2017 model showing up in 2017—what a concept.
Another 2017 model that is missing right now is the BMW X5 xDrive35d, and for that, we have Volkswagen to thank. The VW diesel cheating scandal caused the EPA to test incoming diesels much more rigorously and thoroughly. This is the reason, as reported by Automotive News, that only two auto companies have been cleared so far to sell diesel cars or crossovers in the U.S.
One, strangely enough, is Jaguar, which is the only company selling light diesel vehicles in the U.S. right now. The other company that received the green light from the EPA is BMW.
We know that the normal array of BMW diesels—the 3 Series Sedans and X3 and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles—have experienced a delay in production because of the increased testing. Automotive News reported that a BMW spokesperson told them that 3 Series and X3 diesels might start showing up by the end of the year, with the diesel X5 arriving in January. We’re not sure why that is, since BMW is making diesels in South Carolina, but were just not getting any right now.
Before the VW stink, nine brands were selling 20 diesel models in the U.S. As the industry recovers, don’t expect any new diesel offerings from Volkswagen, Audi, or Porsche for a while. In fact, a recent news story reported that Audi might be making a deal to buy back 25,000 older diesel Q7s.
Many fans of BMW diesels in the U.S. didn’t know what to think a couple of months ago when BMW took the X5 diesel off the BMWUSA.com vehicle configurator. It’s nice to know it will only be another few months before the BMW diesel pipeline reopens.
If nothing else goes wrong.—Scott Blazey
[Photo courtesy of BMW AG.]
