Report: BMW 3 Series 3-cylinder engines due soon
BMW’s head of engine development, Peter Nefischer has announced that the next 3- Series models may be powered by three-cylinder engines.
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He says that they would be featured across the range in the ‘next couple of years’. The automaker feels that it has squeezed all the power it can out of the standard internal combustion motors, so coupling small sized motors with forced induction is the next step to make more powerful models.
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The hybrid i8 supercar, set for 2013 release in the UK, will also be powered by a three cylinder, however the 3-Series version will not be electric like the i8. Six-cylinder petrol motors will be powering most upcoming hybrids, so the i8 engine won’t be seen there either.
Refresher: The 2012 BMW 3 Series three trim levels including Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line – of course, an M Sport Package will follow. The 2012 BMW 328i is powered by a 2.0 liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine making 240-hp at 5,000 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque between 1,250 and 4,800 rpm. That allows 0 to 60 mph to come in just 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph (155 mph with Sport Line package). Power for the 2012 BMW 335i comes from the same N55 3.0 liter 6-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine making 300-hp at 5,800 rpm with a maximum torque of 300 lb-ft between 1,200 rpm and 5,000 rpm. 0 to 60 mph comes in 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph (and 155 mph with Sport Line package).
– By: Alexandra Koken
Source: WhatCar
