BMW’s research and development head, Klaus Draeger, has confirmed that future BMWs will indeed utilize new turbocharged 3-cylinder gas and diesel engines. This begs the question which future models will receive these 3 cylinder motors. According to Draeger (via Autocar), the upcoming FWD 1-series models will receive the 1.5L turbo 3-cylinder and not the F30 3-series (at least not initially?)

“They are not a priority for the 3-series,” Draeger told Autocar last week. “We’ll start with the front-wheel drive architecture and more price-sensitive models.”

Instead, the smallest engine we expect to see for the F30 3-series is the 245hp 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder N20 engine.

Draeger revealed that the petrol version of the engine, known internally as N37, has the potential to match the maximum 54bhp-per-cylinder rating of the firm’s … CONTINUED