Shhh . . . we here at Weber BMW have a secret, and we'd like to let you in on it. Details leaked from a conference in Holland recently suggest that the new BMW 550dX will be the first vehicle to receive the automaker's new triturbo 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel engine. North American sales of the 550dX have yet to be confirmed, but the new engine is also slated to appear in the new X5, xDrive 50d, and X6 xDrive 50d models. It claims to produce 376 horsepower and more than 516 lb-ft torque. Quite a bit more powerful than the 2012 BMW models, the engine is rumored to use two traditional exhaust-blown turbochargers in tandem with an electrically driven turbocharger. The engine will be offered exclusively with four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox and will debut around March 2012.

The new engine should hit about 0-62 mph in five seconds and have a top speed around 155 mph. Combined-cycle fuel consumption will likely come close to 38 mpg. Originally, BMW tested a full-blown M5 diesel engine, but this was decided against due to the fact that the 550dX's four-wheel drive system would have decided the vehicle's height. Along with the standard version of the 550dX, BMW will also build a performance-oriented M550dX. This vehicle will not be an official M model, but it will get numerous chassis and styling changes.

There are several more rumors about the new triturbo engine floating around, but like any good secret, a little mystery must remain about this powerful piece of equipment. You can count on Weber BMW to share breaking news about the new engine as it occurs, so stay tuned. In the meantime, maybe your new or 2012 BMW or Certified Pre-Owned BMW could benefit from a touch-up. Treat your vehicle to a day at the Spa for that special attention it deserves. Call 888-717-0693 for more details.