[aem kei]

Wow this is some sad, sad news...

You will have to translate from dutch to english:

BMW maakt werk van het 'downsizen' van z'n motoren. In de nabije toekomst komt het merk met driecilinder turbomotoren van 122 tot 180 pk. Dat meldt Auto, Motor und Sport, dat beslag heeft weten te leggen op een intern document van BMW.

Volgens het document trapt het toekomstige BMW-gamma af met de x16i, een driecilinder met een inhoud van 1.35 liter. Dankzij de nieuwste turbotechnologie bedraagt het vermogen in deze versie 122 pk, het maximumkoppel ligt op 190 Nm.

Sterkere varianten
Deze 1.35-liter driecilinder komt in nog twee sterkere varianten, de x18i en de x20i. De x18i heeft 150 pk en 220 Nm. De sterkste van het trio is de x20i, die piekt bij 180 pk en 260 Nm.

Om de grotere vermogenshonger bij de klanten te stillen, komt BMW ook met een viercilinder turbomotor. Deze heeft een cilinderinhoud van 1.8 liter. In de x23i levert het blok een vermogen van 204 pk en een maximumkoppel van 300 Nm. De topper is de x25i, die met 240 pk en 350 Nm goed z'n mannetje staat.

De driecilinder komt in de 1- en de 3-serie te liggen, de viercilinder gaat ook naar de grotere modellen. De kleine motoren zijn lichter en hebben een lager brandstofverbruik dan de vergelijkbare, atmosferische blokken die nu in de BMW's liggen.

so bottomline:

3 cyl engines:

1350cc engines

X18i: 150hp
X20i: 180hp

4 cyl engines:

1800cc engines

x23i: 204hp
x25i: 240hp

I don't like this trend of downsizing...

BMW please don't go under 2000cc!!

EDIT:

For the people who don't believe me because i don't speak English hehe

Source Sky news:

The new engines will be turbocharged to ensure that the legendary BMW performance remains despite the 1,350cc capacity. A larger, 1.8-litre, four-cylinder engine will power the more upmarket models. Here’s a list of the new engine line-up:

x16i – 1.35-litre, 3-cylinder, 163bhp/140 lb-ft
x18i – 1.35-litre, 3-cylinder, 201bhp/162 lb-ft
x20i – 1.35-litre, 3-cylinder, 241bhp/192 lb-ft
x23i – 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder, 273bhp/220 lb-ft
x25i – 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder, 321bhp/258 lb-ft

The engines are currently in the development stage and are said to be two years away from production reality so the figures above are set to change slightly. Nevertheless they are more powerful, torquier and presumably cleaner than the current range.

Engine downsizing is the next big thing – the Mercedes E250 CGI’s turbocharged 1.8-litre engine shows that that it’s a win-win in terms of performance and economy. This is a 1.8-litre, large saloon that’s fast enough to have to be electronically limited to 155mph yet with the CO2 emissions of your average supermini.

Don't worry though – BMW isn't got to stop building straight-six and V8 engines just yet.

We’ll bring you more details as they emerge but for now we’re going to be daydreaming about how a turbocharged BMW 3-cylinder will sound…

[nvez]

what's the source tho?

i can write my own text about bmw using honda engines too :P

[aem kei]

the source is:

autoweek (dutch magazine)

and last but not least:

auto motor und sport

everybody knows this one as a respected source of information...

[wt1110]

I'm not going to believe it, until I read it in English!

[thegeneral101]

if this is the trend why are they coming out with a TT V8?

[kgb1637]

I have a feeling this is the trend for Europe where they already use small 4 cylinder in addition to the 6 cylinder motors. A BMW in America with a 3 cylinder will most likely not happen for a long, long time.

[BillLee]

Originally Posted by wt1110

I'm not going to believe it, until I read it in English!

here you go lol.

BMW makes work of the 'down ace' of its motors. In the nabije future comes the brand with three cylinder turbomotoren of 122 until 180 pk.,. That reports Play a sport Car, Motor und, has know that possession to lay on an internal document of BMW.

According to the document, the future BMW-gamut kicks off with the x16i, a three cylinder with a content of 1.35 liter. Thanks to the newest turbotechnologie amounts to lies the fortune in this version 122 pk, the maximum couple on 190 Nm.

Stronger variants This 1.35-liter three cylinder comes in yet two stronger variants, the x18i and the x20i. The x18i has 150 pk and 220 Nm. Strongest of the trio is the x20i, that stands out by 180 pk and 260 Nm.

The larger rich hunger at the customers to satisfy, comes BMW also with a four cylinder turbomotor. These a cylinder content of 1.8 liter has. In the x23i, the block furnishes a fortune of 204 pk and a maximum couple of 300 Nm. The topper is the x25i, that with 240 pk and 350 Nm good its little guy stands.

The three cylinder comes in the 1- and the 3-series to lie, the four cylinder goes also to the larger models. The small motors its lighter and have a lower brandstofverbruik than the comparable, atmospheric blocks that now in the BMW lie.

[aem kei]

hahaha what a terrible translation

i'll try finding one in English...

[aem kei]

Found another source in English for the "dear god it's another language" people
hehehe

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by kgb1637

I have a feeling this is the trend for Europe where they already use small 4 cylinder in addition to the 6 cylinder motors. A BMW in America with a 3 cylinder will most likely not happen for a long, long time.

+1

[BK]

^^ +2 This isn't for the US, it's for the 318i, 320i, etc. that we don't get here.

[aem kei]

Originally Posted by kgb1637

I have a feeling this is the trend for Europe where they already use small 4 cylinder in addition to the 6 cylinder motors. A BMW in America with a 3 cylinder will most likely not happen for a long, long time.

Euh... news flash.

The world is more than just the United States

And yes, Europe is on that part quite innovative; But the American people are asking for smaller more economical cars. so I think it could happen soon.
also because it goes all the way up to the x25i.

Look what Ford is doing with the Ford Ka, the smallest car from the brand is going to the states, like Smart, Mini,...

[ManMachine]

There's nothings sad about it. If BMW makes 1.8T inline4 turbo with 300+ horsepower, then yeah - this is technology advancement.

We all know that inline4 with turbo will be coming in the U.S. It'll be more efficient and still performs well. I'm sure BMW doesn't want to trail Audi in this.

Just because there are more options on the low end doesn't mean the high end ones will go away. BMW now has the V12 with twin turbo.

[Digtlartst]

X20i --- 241 horses from 3 cylinders/1375cc is more than the horses my 325 gets out of 6 cylinders and twice the displacement. Pretty impressive.

[hanmaas]

Originally Posted by aem kei

auto motor und sport

everybody knows this one as a respected source of information...

Auto motor sport? A respected, reliable source of information ? Right.

[OutOn]

Originally Posted by hanmaas

Auto motor sport? A respected, reliable source of information ? Right.

I´m safe cos I can´t speak german...

[E90330iS]

4 cyl is fuel efficient enough for me..

[footie]

Just read this in Worldcanfans website and it is really radical.

See what you think about all this.

Originally Posted by Worldcarfans

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.

If these engines and figures are indeed correct then BMW have got the jump on the competition, though the thought of owning a 3 cylinder is something I don't think I could live with.

[mtla4]

3 cylinder FTW...remember the 3 cylinder Geo Metro/Suzuki swift...since those I dont have any faith on 3 cyl...

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by footie

Just read this in Worldcanfans website and it is really radical.

See what you think about all this.



If these engines and figures are indeed correct then BMW have got the jump on the competition, though the thought of owning a 3 cylinder is something I don't think I could live with.

I covered this story last week elsewhere and most people were blown away by the fact BMW is considering a 3 banger.

This also goes inline with the V5 turbos for larger models.

Footie,

Like I have said before- BMW has been working on a lot of radical motors, and drive trains lately.

The 3 cylinders will not only feature a turbo but an electric motor, the soon to be released 7 series hybrid will not be a two-mode (can't run just on electric) but feature the electric motor as a "boost". The X6 will be a two mode hybrid.

So a 3 cylinder with a turbo and electric motor will put out the same as a six with MUCH greater efficiency, oh and added torque.

Lots of new stuff coming...

[TurboSid]

i highly doubt this will be applicable in the States. They make cars with smaller engines in other countries.

[cougfan335]

I have driven the 1985 Chevy Sprint (the Geo Metro's predecessor) and 3 cylinder is the wave of the future! These engines sound ok, doubt they will come to America anytime soon though. The real question is why can't any company other than Lotus get their cars back down to a normal weight. I want a car that weighs less than 3k lbs and doesn't look like a toy. My first car was a 1993 Honda Accord and it weighed 2,800 lbs, why is that impossible now? Is there really 1,000 lbs of added safety gear neccessary?