The predecessor to the B57 TOP, the N57S, was the pinnacle of diesel performance at BMW.

BMW’s newest engine, codenamed the B57 TOP, is built on the principle that more is always better, at least when it comes to how many turbos need to reside in one engine bay. Apparently, four is the magic number of snails that this German automotive manufacturer’s diesel 3.0-liter requires. Supposedly, this quad-turbo’d monster is designed to replace BMW’s current triple-turbo N57S engine that resides in the X6/X5 M50d and M550d models.

Confirmed by heads of BMW at the 37th International Vienna Motor Symposium, the B57 TOP will pump out an astonishing 293kW(393 hp) and 761Nm (561 lb-ft). There is no doubt that this engine is an excellent bit of engineering porous. By choreographing the four turbos to handle different RPM ranges of the engine it eclipses the power output of its predecessor, the N57S, resulting in an enthralling 129 hp per liter.

BMW has come a long way since its original inline-six made its way into a production vehicle in the early ’80s.

This newest addition to the BMW modular engine family features two smaller turbochargers on a standard turbo exhaust header that will take over the duties of the large single turbocharger. This setup improves the bottom-end torque curve over the N57S, while adding to the functionality of the two larger turbos.

BMW’s dedication to the diesel engine is evident when you look back at the companies history with petrol alternative engines, starting with the introduction of the BMW M21 back in the early ’80s. This overhead cam, turbocharged straight-six only managed to produce 114 hp but boasted improved fuel economy over its gas-powered brethren. The B57 TOP, like every evolution of all previous BMW diesel engines, is no slouch when it comes to making power and improving fuel consumption by 5 percent over the N57S.

The B57 TOP expected to be the powerhouse behind the 750d xDrive, before getting the green light to be part of the M Performance diesel lineup.