BMW promises that small 4-cylinders doesn’t mean small power
It has been some time since Americans have seen a four-cylinder powered BMW. In fact, the last one ever imported into the US was the old E36 3-Series from the 1990s, in the form of the 318.
But in recent news, BMW has been known to be releasing some new turbocharged four-cylinders for the US market in the coming years. However, because us Americans are so obsessed with power and “how many cylinders,” there has been reluctance as to whether a four-cylinder BMW would work again in this country. In reply, BMW says that we need not to worry.
The main reason for BMW reintroducing four-cylinder options for its cars is to help decrease their overall Corporate Average Fuel Economy rating after Obama’s new mandate. But of course, associated with the idea of a four-cylinder is the idea that because it’s a small engine, its power reserves must be small too. On contrary to the popular belief, BMW says that there will be no power loss when compared to the old straight-six standard.
“It wasn’t in line with our image, because it didn’t have the performance of the six cylinder,” said Jim O’Donnell, head of BMW’s U.S. operations. “We were selling ourselves as the ultimate driving machine and really it wasn’t. Now that the engines have developed so far, it’s not an issue at all.”
The first cars that will receive BMW’s new four-cylinder destined for the US market are the new Z4 and the new 5-Series, which both launch later this year in October.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: Automotive News