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2014 BMW 328d rated at 32/45 mpg

BMW still hasn't released official fuel economy numbers for its diesel-powered 2014 328d, but now, those mileage ratings have been posted on the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov website. As expected, the 328d is quite an efficient little machine, with the rear-wheel-drive sedan good for 32 miles per gallon in the city and 45 mpg highway. That even bests the 30/42 mpg of the smaller Volkswagen Jetta TDI.
The last time BMW offered a diesel 3 Series in our market, it was the six-cylinder 335d, which - while mighty quick and excellent to drive - was only offered as a rear-wheel-drive sedan and was rated at 23 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. For 2014, BMW will offer the 328d with optional xDrive all-wheel drive, though that reduces the fuel economy numbers to 31/43 mpg. Beyond that, the BMW will even sell you a 328d xDrive wagon, which nets the same 31/43 mpg rating, according to FuelEconomy.gov.
Look for the 2014 BMW 328d to hit dealerships this fall, and when it launches, it will be the only diesel offering in its class (until the next Mercedes-Benz C-Class arrives, anyway). Lexus and Infiniti will offer hybrid versions of the IS and Q50, respectively, but we've always had a taste for torque, and the 328d's 2.0-liter engine with 180 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of twist shouldn't disappoint.

Road & Track names its 2013 Performance Car of the Year

Road & Track recently staged its first annual Performance Car of the Year test, pitting 13 new and updated performance cars against each other on track, then graduating the top six to a road test before picking a winner. Additionally, the magazine staff picked the best automobiles of the year in eight categories.
But first, let's cover the PCotY segment. Here's the list of cars brought to the comparison test: Audi R8 V10 Plus; BMW 435i; BMW M6 Competition Package; Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51; Ferrari F12 Berlinetta; Ford Fiesta ST; Jaguar F-Type V8 S; Jaguar XFR-S; Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model Wagon; Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series; Mini John Cooper Works GP; Nissan GT-R Track Edition; and Porsche Cayman S.
To find out the results of the comparison, head over to Road & Track's website or check the press release below, where you'll also find the magazine's top-rated vehicles in eight categories. Want more? Head over to the 2013 PCotY hub. But before you do that, take a stab at guessing the winner of PCotY (we'll give you one hint: it isn't a Porsche).

Next-gen BMW M5 spied on Munich roads

BMW is still hard at work developing the next-gen M5 around the company's home base in Munich. Unfortunately, the Bavarians are keeping the super sedan plastered with camouflage, which makes picking out the details rather difficult. There are some tiny tweaks from the previous spy shots, though. Obviously, these are still early development vehicles, so it's hard to know whether these changes are in any way meaningful. Up front, this M5 still has an air intake stretching all the way across the lower portion of the bumper. The earlier shots showed this piece with a uniform width, but the designers added a little flair this time by lifting the center portion slightly for a more attractive look. Comparing the two examples in profile, the suspension has seemingly been lowered on the latest one to tuck the tires closer to the fender lips. Most parts have carried over, though, including the massive, cross-drilled brake rotors and quad exhaust tips poking out from the rear. The next M5 should have no problem backing up its mean looks, though. All indications, including earlier spy shots, suggest that the high-performance sedan will gain all-wheel drive, at least as an option, and power will be around 600 horsepower. While about the same as the current 30th anniversary edition, the future 5 Series will reportedly follow the lead of the latest 7 Series by going on a big diet thanks in part from a new, lighter platform.