Rumours: Next Gen BMW 1-Series and 3-Series to Receive Turbo 3-Cylinder

BMW 123d 2.0-liter twin turbo diesel engine

By Thami Masemola
May 12, 2009 2:14 PM
Filed Under: BMW, German, Rumours

Sky News motoring is fanning up the debate on BMW's possible new small petrol turbo engines. The source claims to have details of the new motors which will be comprised of a 1.35-litre three-cylinder and a larger 1.8-litre four-cylinder.

Five engines in total, three 1.35-litre and two 1.8-litre are listed as being part of the offering. They will be installed in 1 and 3 Series cars and perhaps in baseline 5 Series, X3 and X1 models. Power is said to range from 163bhp (122kW) and 140 lb-ft (190Nm) for a baseline model, to 241bhp (180kW) and 192 lb-ft (260Nm) for the 1.35-litre. The 1.8-litre will produce a massive 273bhp (204kW) minimum and 321bhp (239kW) tops.

BMW already has a small 2.0-litre twin turbo diesel as used in the 123D for 150kW (201bhp) and 400Nm. Where it has been lacking and where competitors like Mercedes-Benz and Audi have excelled is in the provision of compact four-pot petrol turbo engines. It looks like those days are coming to an end.

Apparently these BMW engines will be ready for production by the year 2011. They will be cleaner, more powerful and more efficient than current normally aspirated engines. The bigger twin turbo petrols like the 3.0-litre and 4.4-litre V8 will stay in the lineup.

 

Source: sky.com
Tags: BMW 123d

Comments

Bristol411S3
May 12, 2009 2:40 PM
A three-pot? Didn't see that coming. Looking forward to hearing how that sounds.

Aren't Fiat planning a turbocharged twin for the 500 soon?

orlandocroccia
May 12, 2009 2:48 PM
nice numbers! BMW has always delivered excellent powerplants. Another battle in the horizon of the german Big Three!

nederina
May 12, 2009 2:54 PM
okay this might sound daft but i have driven mitsubishi's brilliant i-kei car. it's got a turbocharged 660cc petrol three cylinder engine. the sound it makes has a very good strong character; that also includes the perodua kelisa. there's a hint of porsche's flat six engine, at its high engine revs. hope that the engine also will make its way in the next mini - hopefully the car will be lighter too. i think it is bmw's new strategy to install a hybrid motor like what mitsubishi did to their i-MIEV.

Targa_Florio
May 12, 2009 3:18 PM
Exactly 178hp/L for both top-end engines?! That sounds as a lot. I guess they would use Variable Twin-Turbo like they do on diesels rather than Parallel Twin-Turbo currently used on the 3L petrol, otherwise they might struggle with turbo lag and high boost threshold.

madness
May 12, 2009 3:39 PM
A 3 cylinder? I dunno... 3 cylinder engines tend to be noisy and unbalanced. any1 who has driven an opel corsa 1l petrol or a 1.4 diesel polo will know exactly what im on about!

afterace2
May 12, 2009 5:33 PM
I do and i don;t want to have anything in common with a 3 cylinder, even if it comes from a BMW!

Schizo0223
May 12, 2009 7:02 PM
Screw the 3 cylinder...the figures for the 2L 4banger sounds impressive...imagine how much more a tuner can eek out from that engine with some simple engine management, turbo, and exhaust upgrades! God I'm so glad that turbo engines are making a come back! My friend's old 944 Turbo was a beast after some modifications...the newer engines should be even better!

alessandro
May 12, 2009 7:02 PM
I had one. My first very own car was Daihatsu Charade from 1984. A litre three-pot as hell. Never again but engine was torquish though.


Edited by user on May 12, 2009 at 7:03 PM
xLumino
May 12, 2009 8:13 PM
Sonds completely different to what we know about BMW-engines. 3-cylindre turboengines have great power for small cars, but for 3-series of BMW? I wait for it and will test, nothing more to say ;)

HEMI426
May 12, 2009 8:56 PM
BMW engines are good as the are now! 2.0 170 hp, 3.0 272 hp, without a turbo. Don't make your engines any smaller, or give every engine in your lineup a turbo. I hope the don't gonna make only inline six petrol engines with turbos, in my opinion there normally aspirated 3.0 L6 with 218 or 272 hp is the best six cylinder petrol engine EVER

fusion01
May 12, 2009 9:04 PM
What, from a 1.8 litre? I'm amazed: 'The 1.8-litre will produce a massive 273bhp (204kW) minimum and 321bhp (239kW) tops.' Seems a little OTT to me. When these little puppies roll out, I'll be getting my 135i straight six for cheap 2nd hand with no regrets. Have a turbo car now and wanting to go the NA route!

fusion01
May 12, 2009 9:05 PM
^ lol... the 135i is a twin-turbo on a straight 6, so best of both worlds!

Uptohere
May 12, 2009 11:46 PM
I don't see how this is superior to a 4 cyl.

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