In what is sure to go down as one of the strangest partnerships of the year, BMW has signed a deal with American law enforcement vehicle manufacturer Carbon Motors to supply it with more than 240,000 diesel engines.

The agreement calls for delivery of BMW inline six-cylinder turbodiesel engines complete with cooling and exhaust systems, as well as an automatic transmission.

For anyone unfamiliar with Carbon Motors, it is the company behind 2008’s E7 purpose-built police concept car. The E7 hasn't even secured its final name yet--Carbon Motors will be relying on the law enforcement community to choose a name for the vehicle ahead of production. Nevertheless, with today’s announcement, the car is looking more like a real product that could actually come to market.

Designed as a completely unique and specific tool for law enforcement agencies, Carbon Motors plans to outfit the E7 with a 300 horsepower 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine with 420 pound-feet of torque and a rear-wheel drive layout. A six-speed automatic will handle shifting duties, while a McPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear with self-leveling shocks give the car real handling potential. Despite being diesel-powered, the car won't be pokey--Carbon Motors claims a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.

BMW is certainly helping to promote diesel in the U.S., with models like the X5 xDrive 35d and the 335d Sedan being offered for sale since December 2008, and this latest announcement should only add to the constructive work already done.

For more information on Carbon Motors and its E7 police concept car, check out our previous story by clicking here.

[BMW]