It's no secret formula as to what makes a good time behind the wheel. Lots of power in a small, light package. Now, granted, you can chip, gas & goose the big diesels to make them hustle. But to me, going fast in a 3/4 or 1-ton diesel truck feels a lot like Slim Pickens riding the bomb waving his cowboy hat as he's dropped out of the bomber in Dr. Strangelove. Basically, going really fast with an eerily out-of-control feeling. Thrilling, yes, comforting, not exactly.

But I came across the latest little diesel lethal weapon. It's called the BMW 335d. For now, it's a Europe-only treat, but it's not that far-fetched to think we could see it within the next few years in the U.S. If they can get the emissions issues worked out, this could turn out to be one of the sweetest diesel cars to come out in quite some time.

Let's take a look at the specs: Twin-turbocharged 3.0L straight-six diesel. 282 horsepower and 428 lb./ft. of torque. No, that is not a typo. 428 lb./ft. as in more torque than a Vortec 7400 big block, more than an LS2 Corvette, and more than the new Escalade. Granted, the big trucks have 650 lb./ft. or more now, and will probably be reaching or surpassing the 700 lb./ft. mark soon. But let's keep things in perspective folks. We're talking 3,700-ish pounds vs. 6-7,000+ pounds. The power (or torque)-to-weight ratio is definitely looking favorable for the Bimmer.

Add to that the very realistic possibility that this little bad boy could get 40+ miles per gallon on the freeway, and you're talking about one delectable little performance package. Granted, Bimmers have never come cheap, and expect to pay well over $40k for this one. But if you're looking for a compact, practical package that packs a major diesel punch, this could be your ticket to ride...Cowboy hat optional.