The BMW 320D EfficientDynamics isn’t an electric car; neither does it run on biofuel. But on 17 April 2010 the Independent Newspaper saw fit to name it as the winner of their Green Car award. It has also received awards from Which? magazine (Best Compact Executive Car) while BMW where named Greenest Manufacturer of the Year by Green-Car-Guide.com. So what makes it one of the greenest cars on the market?
BMW 320D EfficientDynamics – Vital Statistics
The 320D EfficientDynamics model became available for order in early 2010. It has a 2 litre engine that puts out 161 bhp and 265lb ft, while it hits 62mph in a respectable 8.2 seconds. It has a top speed of 140mph and runs at a remarkable 68.9 miles per gallon. It comes with all the standard features of the 320D model from 2007 and can feel to the uninitiated like essentially the same car.
Efficient Dynamics System
What makes the 320D EfficientDynamics edition special are some tweaks to the engine and the handling of the car that make it extremely fuel efficient and low in emissions.
The power in the engine has been lowered slightly but the torque has actually been increased. Slimmer wheels and tyres, lower suspension and ‘Aero’ alloys help to decrease friction and resistance as the car moves. There’s also a weights system that counteracts the vibrations of the car; this creates a much smoother driving experience at lower revs which encourages the driver to stick to higher gears, improving the car’s overall efficiency.
Green Car Comparisons
The CO2 output of the 320D EfficientDynamics is around 109g/km, which is about the same as supermini – despite the car weighing in at 1500Kg. It comes close to the market leading hybrid cars in terms of emission levels. The Hyundai Elantra LPI Hybrid released in 2009 delivers emissions of 99g/km and is rated as a Super Low Emissions Vehicle.
The 320D EfficientDynamics is also more fuel efficient than most hybrids. The Elantra above rates around 42 miles to the gallon, meaning the 320D consumes over 35% less fuel. It also performs better in terms of speed and drivers don’t have to give up boot space for batteries.
The car has received largely favourable reviews from publications such as Which and Autocar.co.uk, though there have been some doubts about the handling and its responsiveness in strong winds. Overall however it promises to be one of the greenest high end cars on the market and is a lesson in fuel-efficient dynamics for all automobile manufacturers.
The 320D EfficientDynamics thus justifies its award nominations with a remarkably low emissions output and remarkably high fuel efficiency. While efficient dynamic technology has been standard in BMW vehicles since 2007 the new 320D model goes that extra mile. It doesn’t have the disadvantages of a hybrid or electric car while it proves that gas-powered vehicles can still be green.
