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BMW 116d - low emissions without compromise
publication date: Aug 7, 2009
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author/source: David Miles
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The battle to produce low emission cars for the mass
markets is well and truly on and more and more products are currently
being launched.
So are initiatives to make the UK the hub for future electric battery
and hybrid car production. The latest developments by BMW suggest there
is still plenty of room for conventional internal combustion engines.
The UK Government as a pot of £250 million to incentivise plug-in
electric and hybrid vehicle production and Nissan and Toyota have
announced plans to play their part in this scheme. Honda will continue
with the addition of more hybrid models and with the use of other clean
power sources, so will Lexus, PSA Peugeot Citroen, MINI, GM and
Mitsubishi Motors.
But there are even more manufacturers who still see the real future for
clean motoring by developing less costly conventional petrol and diesel
engines with eco friendly low CO2 models such as Ford with ECOnetic,
Volvo with DRIVe, VW with BlueMotion and so on.
Parts of the motor industry still have serious reservations about the
long-term use of electric/hybrid battery power vehicles. Electricity
still has to be produced and over 70PC of it currently by coal and gas
fired power stations.
So are battery powered vehicles really green in their development, are
batteries with their nasty polluting components the real answer and
what is the real cost in bringing this technology to market?
In addition the carbon footprint created by transporting battery
components around the world really does not stack up as making for
‘dust-to-dust’ (whole life) cleaner vehicles. There is of course
another issue on whether petrol hybrid vehicles, which require two
motors, are in real-life driving conditions really that fuel efficient
and their performance can be considerably less than conventional cars –
there are just too many compromises with hybrid and electric models.
Those avoiding paying the London Congestion Charge are the exception.
The immediate future means we have more choice of conventional and
electric/hybrid cars to buy until there is a clear solution to what
actually is the cleanest and most cost efficient way to travel. Perhaps
hydrogen as a fuel cell or as a liquefied fuel for combustion engines
will be the eventual answer once the infrastructure to supply it on
demand is in place. Many industry experts think this will be the way
forward for zero emission vehicles.
In the meantime we have the new Toyota Prius about to join the market
which emits just 89g/km of CO2 or the Honda Insight with 101g/km of CO2
and numerous other low emission CO2 diesel powered models.
These include the 116d with BMW’s EfficientDynamics technologies which
reduces CO2 emissions to 118g/km giving a £35 road tax bill and for
company car drivers a tax liability of just 13PC. On the tax issue this
is a little more than the 10PC incurred by hybrids but then the driver
is getting a more user-friendly, versatile and arguably acceptable car.
And not missing out to BMW, Audi another German premium brand has just
announced they are launching now a new 1.6-litre, TDI turbodiesel low
emission engine option for their A3, A3 Sportback and A3 Cabriolet
ranges with prices starting at £17,485.
This 105PS, 250Nm unit emits just 109g/km of CO2 which means it costs
£35 a year in road tax and the cars will officially return close to
69mpg. There is no shortage of performance either with a top speed of
121mph and 0-62mph takes 11.4 seconds.
BEHIND THE WHEEL | The 1-Series 116d available in three and five door body styles is BMW’s
most fuel efficient and least polluting vehicle ever with a combined
cycle fuel consumption figure of 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 118g/km
giving a road tax bill of £35 and company car drivers pay £13PC in
benefit in kind tax.
The 116d prices range from £17,605 for the three-door to £18,135 for
the base model five-door and both are available with standard, ES,
Sport, SE and M Sport levels of specification with prices increasing to
£21,690.
Although termed the 116 this model range actual has a 2.0-litre, four
cylinder diesel engine producing 116bhp with 260Nm of torque from
1,750rpm giving a top speed of 124mph and 0-62mph in 10.3 seconds.
Officially the average fuel economy is 64.2mpg and realistically my
test car returned 46.3mpg for the usual motorway, city and country
driving over a week long period. This is better than the current fuel economy I am achieving from the
new Honda Insight hybrid which seems settled at 44.4mpg. Guess which
car drives and handles better? The BMW by far, although the Insight is
roomier, better equipped and costs less at £16,390 against the £18,945
of my 116d Sport 5-Door.
It really is down to personal choice but my view is that buying a
petrol hybrid you are committed to that type of motoring, fuel
efficient and lack-lustre performance with quirky styling. But by
buying something like the BMW 116d you get a good looking premium brand
versatile car that is fuel efficient and can produce the ‘goods’ as far
as performance goes when required - I call it hedging my bet, I can
drive how I want, when I want to without restriction and have either
performance or economy or both in a conventional car.
Like all BMW models the 1-Series and 116d has EfficientDynamics
Intelligent Energy Management, the much applauded fuel saving and lower
CO2 technology, that does everything expected of it without dulling
performance.
Some of the fuel and CO2 saving measures included in this package are
lightweight construction, auto stop-start, brake energy regeneration,
electric power steering, intelligent alternator control which captures
and stores power and the optimum gear shift indicator. Small items
which produce big results.
| The Sport specification also includes manual air conditioning, door
sill finishes with chrome inserts, electrically operated windows and
mirrors, cloth upholstery, a good sound system, sports leather steering
wheel with multifunction controls and on-boards information computer.
17-inch alloy complete the picture.
For versatility the rear seats are 60/40 folding but be warned the rear
seat space, headroom and legroom in all 1-Series models is not very
good but room in the front is excellent.
|  | As a package the 116d five-door will be the keen driver’s choice thanks
to the engine performance, taught and well balanced handling. The
steering offers plenty of feedback to the driver and rear wheel drive
is always an advantage. The specification includes stability and
traction controls, corner and dynamic brake controls and electronic
brakeforce distribution – just like the big brother BMWs.
The suspension on my Sport model was very firm and in conjunction with
the run-flat tyres the ride and comfort quality was not good. I would
recommend sticking with the ES version but I know the ride is on the
firm side with that model as well.
The engine is certainly not obviously detuned to provide fuel economy
and low emissions. The Hams Hall, British built, unit is responsive and
quick during acceleration. The tall top gear ratio means it is a little
‘flat’ in sixth – more of a cruising ratio which aids fuel saving.
It might be small but it is a
proper BMW and a mighty frugal one at that.
No wonder company car drivers like them – all the brand image without
loss in their beloved performance and much cheaper when it comes to
company car tax. | Private buyers as well need to consider this
particular BMW especially if they are tempted to consider going the
hybrid route when buying a new car.
The £35 road tax, easy to achieve 45+ mpg, a 124mph top speed and
0-62mph in just over 10 seconds plus BMW’s Service Inclusive offer of
5-years/60,000 miles servicing costs for £660 is motoring without too
many compromises and makes more sense to me. | MILESTONES.
BMW 116d Sport 5-Door £18,945.
Engine/transmission: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel, 116bhp,
260Nm (192lb ft) from 1,750rpm, 6-speed manual with rear wheel drive.
Performance: 124mph, 0-62mph 10.3 seconds, 64.2mpg (45.5mpg actual), CO2 118g/km, VED Band C £35, BIK tax 13PC.
Insurance group: 11.
For: Excellent fuel economy with low CO2 emissions yet it performs as a
BMW should without compromises, handles sharply, well built, classy
interior design, roomy front interior.
Against: More expensive than the Prius and Insight hybrids to buy, harsh and uncomfortable ride, limited rear seat legroom.
©MilesBetterNewsAgency
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