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BMW to end V8 diesel engine
By Yoann Besnard on 27 March 2008 | 
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BMW plans to end V8 diesel production due to stricter emission regulations better fuel efficiency demanded by customers.
The stricter regulations made another victim among the engines as BMW stopped producing the rare V8 diesel engine. In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, the company CEO Norbert Reithofer said that the carmaker would focus on the smaller six cylinder engines which offer similar performances with the help of turbocharging and direct injection technology while meeting the tougher regulations.
Mercedes has similar plans although the company didn’t confirm such plans. Audi is standing against the trend as the carmaker released a V12 TDi engine at Geneva and plans to launch a more powerful version of the 4.2-litre V8 unit.
Codenamed M67, the V8 diesel appeared for the first time in 1999 under the form of a 3.9-litre unit which won the "3-4-litre" category of the International Engine of the Year award for 1999 and 2000. It delivered 234bhp in its first version. Its power jumped to 241 bhp in 2000 and to 254bhp in 2001. It grew in size in 2005 and became a 4.4-litre unit with a power output of 299bhp. In 2006 its power was increased to 329bhp.