BMW officially confirms 4-cylinder turbo for the U.S. by end of 2011

January 28, 2011May 10, 2012 Omar Rana 2011, BMW X1, Crossovers, SUVs

As confirmed yesterday by BMW of North America’s CEO Jim O’Donnell, 4-cylinder turbo BMW vehicles will be coming to the stateside at the end of this year. Today, BMW officially confirmed that 4-cylinder engines will be returning to the US line-up for the first time in since 1999.

The engine is the same unit that recently made its debut in Europe on the 2011 BMW X1 xDrive28i. The 2.0L 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo with high-pressure direct-injection and BMW’s VALVETRONIC intake control produces 240-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. That’s more than BMW’s naturally aspirated 3.0L inline 6-cylinder engine.

“Maximum output of 240 horsepower is achieved at 5,000 rpm, 1,500 rpm lower than in the normally-aspirated 3.0-liter inline six, BMW said. “The peak torque of 260 lb-ft, comes on stream at just 1,250 rpm. Not only is that 30% more torque than the aforementioned inline six, it also peaks 1,500 rpm earlier. The vigorous power comes on early and climbs steadily all the way to redline.”

No word on what models will get the engine first but BMW said that “US-specific model and timing information will follow at a later date.”