Report: Next BMW 1-Series, 3-Series to get turbocharged 3-cylinder engines

Posted: May 12, 2009
Filed under: BMW, Hybrids, Green News, Industry News

How low can you go? It seems like that those are the five words BMW lives by when planning future engine displacements. Recent reports suggest that BMW’s EfficientDynamics program is working on a new range of 3-cylinder gasoline engines for the next-generation 1-Series, 3-Series and the upcoming BMW Z2.

According to Sky Motoring, the new 3-cylinder engines will be turbocharged. Range-topping engines on the three mentioned models will be a 321-hp 1.8L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine.

The engines are currently under development and are about two years away from production.

Here’s a list of the new line-up:

x16i – 1.35L , 3-cylinder, 163-hp/140 lb-ft
x18i – 1.35L, 3-cylinder, 201-hp/162 lb-ft
x20i – 1.35L, 3-cylinder, 241-hp/192 lb-ft
x23i – 1.8L, 4-cylinder, 273-hp/220 lb-ft
x25i – 1.8L, 4-cylinder, 321-hp/258 lb-ft

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Source: SkyMotoring

Related Posts:

  1. BMW confirms 4-cylinder engines for the U.S., four banger 3-Series coming in 2012
  2. Nissan studying turbocharged engines for future lineup
  3. BMW, Mercedes-Benz considering 4-cylinder engines for the U.S.
  4. Next Porsche Boxster to get turbocharged 4-cylinder
  5. Turbocharged 4-cylinder Chevrolet Camaro to become a reality?

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  • Allen
    No. I can believe in 4 cylinders, but 3? A 92 Geo Metro had 3. Plus, with all that power in so few cylinders, BMW will bring back the rattles and shakes of days we don't want to relive.

    I'm all for (and have said it in the past) 4 cylinder BMW's again, remember the E30 M3 and all the glory that car had? Would love to see the next 128i (or 123i, perhaps?) have a sweet singing 190hp 4 cylinder, so long as they got the weight down. That is what is killing cars today, weight. If they don't do something about how porky these cars are getting, hitting the mpg marks governments are setting will be impossible.

    Go grab your carbon fiber, aluminum, and magnesium BMW. Sink it all into the next 3 series, shave weight where ever you can. The current 335i, at its lightest, is 3600lbs! That leaves us with only one horsepower for every 12 pounds. That is not a hard mark to hit. If you bring down the 3 series top model to 250 horsepower, all you need to do is shave 600lbs, quite easy with the right materials, and by paying attention to your design.

    Mercedes Benz has already failed its engineering heritage. The new C-Class is heavier, less fuel efficient, and slower than the last model. You can do better, BMW!
  • stevenh
    Impressed by the power figures from those small engines, never thought I would see the day that the 4cyl option would be the prestige upgrade! Will miss the smoothness of an I-6 motor. I guess that the M3 will be the 6cyl model now when they are introduced
  • Bobmarley
    ...but you never thought a 3 cylinder could put out 241hp or a 4 cylinder with 321hp! I remember when i thought my dads 99 Dakota sport with a 5.2L V8 was awsome because it had 225hp or even more cool was the 5.9 RT with 250hp! lol...it makes you question if you really need that much power?
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