Yes, there are similarities, but this is a first (but certainly first of many) on a diesel engine. Due to the high boost levels and efficciency of a diesel engine (eg. very little exhaust gas at low rpm), engineering a turbo setup that is able to provide both early boost and supply high end power is a major challenge.
This setup uses diferent size turbos and a strategy for managing the boost by manipulating the flow of exhaust gas and intake air. As such, the boost level is higher than on the otherwise pretty much identical 530d single turbo engine all the way from idle to redline, with huge torque (rumorde to pass 500Nm at 1400 rpm!)and an exeptionally wide powerband. Boost level is rumored to be above 1.5 bar.
All this power from a smooth running economy engine. Almost makes you forget it'll do 100km/h in 6.5s
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