The old question that divides both petrolheads and common drivers: diesel or gasoline? Ok, actually the first ones will definitely choose gasoline engines, the second ones depend on what they value. In any case, it is common to associate diesel engines with slow, heavy and noisy mechanics.
Fortunately, automotive engineering has evolved and today we have very efficient diesel engines.
Thanks to the marvels of injection, turbo and electronic technology, the qualities of diesel mechanics are no longer limited to fuel prices, autonomy and consumption. Some diesel engines can even sometimes outperform their Otto rivals.
This is the list of the five fastest diesel cars today:
5th – BMW 740d xDrive: 0-100 km/h in 5.2 seconds
Since its launch, the German luxury saloon has been a natural example of what is best done by the Munich brand in terms of mechanics and new technologies. BMW's top-of-the-range model is equipped with a 3.0 6-cylinder engine that guarantees 320hp of power and a maximum torque of 680Nm.
4th – Audi SQ5 TDI Competition: 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds
In 2013, this SUV from Audi won a variant focused on performance, equipped with a V6 3.0 bi-turbo block of 308 hp and 650 Nm, which accelerated from 0 to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds. For this year, the German brand proposes an even faster version that cuts 0.2 seconds from the previous value, thanks to the addition of 32hp of power. And we are talking about an SUV…
3rd – BMW 335d xDrive: 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds
Like the previous models on the list, the BMW 335d xDrive has a 3.0-litre engine, capable of delivering 313 hp at 4400 rpm, which, as you can guess, provides stunning performance. Equipped with a pair of turbochargers available only in the xDrive all-wheel-drive version, this German sedan is one of the fastest 3 Series ever.
2nd – Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro: 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds
In addition to its elegance and build quality, the top of the range from Audi stands out for its V8 4.2 TDI engine with 385 hp and 850 Nm of torque. The bet on power translates into an acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in a short 4.7 seconds. From this list, it will eventually be the most impressive model. By numbers, size and performance achieved...
1st – BMW M550d xDrive: 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds
To complete a list dominated by German models, in first place (equal to the Audi A8) is the BMW M550d, model unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2012. Moreover, this was the first Diesel sports car launched under the umbrella of the M division of the BMW – and considering the performance, it was a great debut! The 3.0 liter inline six-cylinder engine uses three turbos and develops 381hp and 740Nm of maximum torque. It steals first place from the Audi A8 because it is definitely sportier.