BMW TwinPower Turbo Engines CGI animation [video]

Front wheel drive and 3-cylinders

BMW has released a fancy CGI animation promo for their BMW EfficientDynamics engine family featuring TwinPower Turbo.

The video starts off with an android of sorts virtually building an engine. It goes on to demonstrate BMW's "Perfect Cylinder" combustion via turbo, Valvetronic and direct injection technology.

Now this is where things get interesting as the android continues to build a four cylinder engine mounted in a vehicle's engine bay longitudinally. BMW loyalists might want to look away at this part as the android then takes another 4-cylinder turbo and mounts it transversely. This indicates a front wheel drive vehicle, which BMW has already announced, but not without an apprehensive response from purists. They fear the move will dilute BMW's ability to make cars with great driving dynamics - a characteristic the BMW brand has become known for.

The video continues with the modular engine being expanded to 6-cylinder and then it's cut in half as a 3-cylinder and fitted to a new smaller vehicle presumably the upcoming i3.

Source: BMW

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 M! M!
i guess this sort of animation appeals kids with no driver's license? and the term "TwinPower"?....
April 5, 2011 9:17 pm
 ClintonM3 ClintonM3
the term "twin scroll" might be already copy righted.
April 5, 2011 9:43 pm
 accousticjama accousticjama
So BMW are joining clueless VW/Audi in building FWD cars.Merc are following suite too.....That just leaves Porsche as the only German car manufacturer with credibility.RWD/4WD or nothing.
April 5, 2011 11:24 pm
 scratchy996 scratchy996
do you really need RWD in a small city car ? FWD cars are cheaper and get better fuel economy and that's what most people want.
April 6, 2011 12:27 am
 BOOGIE_WOOGIE BOOGIE_WOOGIE
@Scratchy: Yep you are 100% correct. This is a business and BMW is in it to make money and expand the brand. It amazes me how some people cant seem to grasp the idea of BMW going FWD. The IQ level around here is dropping by the second.
April 6, 2011 1:49 am
 adz612 adz612
You forgot age groups.
April 6, 2011 4:39 am
 shaahinmt shaahinmt
such a shame someone can have not feel and sense for history, pedigree, dignity, ideology, and mechanics.
April 7, 2011 12:03 pm
 DogFalcon DogFalcon
People who thinks that only RWD/4WD is the best...They do not really like cars, at all. I can't imagine a GTI being RWD, nor a Mini Cooper and so on and son on! FWD vs RWD is an endless discussion.
April 6, 2011 3:50 am
 out4ride out4ride
I love how BMW brain washes everyone into thinking that they came up with something new. All the 50/50 weight split and vision efficiency and all people want is a car with BMW emblem on the front that can say hey look at me. I haven't see a new BMW around me that isn't a xdrive in months. It's what people one to buy not what they wanna sell. Isn't always like this?
April 6, 2011 4:58 am
 Han Solo Han Solo
The market is already saturated with FWD cars, we dont need another one of these small A or B segment FWD cars. People buy BMWs to make themselves feel young...and you know what makes them feel young...I'll tell you what. Its when peoples jaws drop when they see you drifting (slightly) in and out of corners with the BMW emblem on the Hood. You cant do that on a FWD car. Dont do it BMW...your walking into a bottomless pit.
April 6, 2011 5:08 am
 vanquert vanquert
Where I'm from you can do that with a FWD car and a little skill ;) I'm not sure where the majority of the users here are from, but in Europe it has a tendency to snow in the winter. And RWD can't comprehend with the snow like FWD can. Of course 4WD is the shit on snow, but it is a bit more expensive.
April 6, 2011 6:17 am
 atlasmason atlasmason
"Its when peoples jaws drop when they see you drifting (slightly) in and out of corners with the BMW emblem on the Hood." ken block and his ford focus would beg to differ.
April 6, 2011 1:27 pm
 GTurbo GTurbo
First of all, I love the CGI animation. Secondly, it shows BMW are reinventing themselves with modern technology, inspired no less by having MINI in their portfolio. Finally, the micro car market is one of the fastest-growing currently and only a myopic car firm will fold their arms and do nothing about it!
April 6, 2011 6:12 am
 Broseph Stalin Broseph Stalin
The new FWD BMW is going to be great to drive because its gonna be based on the Mini.
April 6, 2011 6:43 am
 bboothy bboothy
And the new MINI is going to be great to drive because it will have a proper BMW engine.
April 6, 2011 11:27 am
 shaahinmt shaahinmt
i didn't even know a mini is comparable to a 1 series!
April 7, 2011 11:57 am
 eaksoy eaksoy
Personally I'm not against FWD cars. However, I am strongly against BMW going out of tradition. FWD models, transverse engine placement, turbo engines... All these emission and efficiency stuff is causing BMW to loose its character and uniqueness... I mean after the launch of these I4 FWD BMW's, what is going to hold me back from buying a an Audi?
April 6, 2011 7:12 am
 atlasmason atlasmason
i'm sorry, what? bmw's always had turbo and twin-turbo engines in their lineup. how's that breaking from tradition? "I mean after the launch of these I4 FWD BMW's, what is going to hold me back from buying a an Audi?" so what's the big deal? are you buying that inline-4 fwd bmw to begin with? if not, then i don't see how that affects you. does an sls-amg owner care that mb makes the fwd b-class?
April 6, 2011 1:34 pm
 eaksoy eaksoy
BMW always had twin turbo engines? How old are you dude, 6? BMW began using twin turbo broadly in 2006. Before that, they were always famous with their atmospheric I6 engines... When a car passes from behind, I used to tell if it was a BMW or not from its engine note. BMW's used to have a metallic and unique engine sound. After the twin turbo engines, all I hear is common exhaust bass, same noise Audi's do. This is a clear proof that BMW's is going out of tradition. People in Munich used to build BMW's, now they're just building cars... Thats how I feel. The big deal is, an sls amg costs more than a ferrari but it isnt half as good as a ferrari in terms of a supersports car. Thats because they build all kinds of cars like FWD B-classes and A classes and S class and busses and trucks and etc. They can't specialize on something and thats why they suck. BMW used to specialize in vertically placed atmospheric I6 engines with RWD. And they were damn good at it. I wont be saying the same in the near future because of their struggle to cath up with EU's norms and regulations...
April 7, 2011 3:22 am
 schizo schizo
I hate improperly made FWD cars with gobs of power that induces torque steer. Slick little fwd cars that are balanced right with adequate engines are fun to drive. I'm looking forward to what BMW can do with a FWD car. It looks like they might have a good formula with the turbo-charged I3 engine in a compact FWD package.
April 6, 2011 11:42 pm
 Han Solo Han Solo
atlasmason, I thought Ken Block's Ford Focus is a 4WD car not a FWD. Anyway, I just personally dont like the idea of FWD on a BMW, like most guys who have driven a BMW would agree. Only a RWD car can give you the adrenaline rush when you take a high speed turn and the rear end goes tail happy. Just when you think you are losing it the DSC kicks in and sets you straight back on course. You just can't get that kind of fun from any FWD, maybe a 4WD but definitely not a FWD. The EVO X is a tranverse mounted 4WD, it is a great car to drive. Powerful traction, exceptional handling. But I think it would have been much more fun to drive if it were to have a Longitudinally mounted engine with RWD or 4WD.
April 7, 2011 4:05 am
 shaahinmt shaahinmt
i don't fear(think) that a fwd cant have "great driving dynamics - a characteristic the BMW brand has become known for", i know it will not be the same, the same way i don't think salad tastes as good as pan cake with cream and maple syrup, everyone knows it.
April 7, 2011 11:55 am