New BMW 3 cylinder engine

[DrDrew]

Anyone seen the BMW are downsizing to a 3-pot to be used in the new mini, 1 series and 3 series? Looks like an interesting modular set-up

to quote autocar

This is the all-new, BMW 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged engine. It will find its way under the bonnet of next year’s new Mini, the new front-drive BMW family and, it’s rumoured, today’s rear-drive 1-series and 3-series models.

Codenamed B38 (petrol) and B37 (diesel), it will come in petrol and diesel forms and is expected to be between five and 15 per cent more economical than BMW’s current N20 four-cylinder engines.

Built on an alloy block, the engine gets Valvetronic variable valve timing, a single turbo, 11.0:1 compression ratio and a longer stroke than the N20. It has been engineered as part of BMW future modular engine strategy, which sees all engines based on the same individual 500cc cylinder.

BMW says the petrol engine will develop between 40bhp and 66bhp per cylinder, giving the various versions power outputs of between 120bhp and 200bhp. The torque outputs are expected to be between 44lbft and 66lb ft giving a range of 132lb ft and 198lb ft.

The B37 diesel engine shares up to 60 per cent of its architecture with the petrol engine and can be made on the same production line. The diesel engine output will range between 100bhp and 181bhp and 166lb ft and 221lb ft of torque.

The engine is likely to first appear in the rear of the BMW i8 hybrid supercar, where it will be equipped with a generator to help recharge the battery pack. BMW's Hams Hall plant is expected to produce the new engine.

BMW is also preparing the B48, the four-cylinder sister engine of the B38. It is expected to power models including the next-generation Mini Cooper S, to be shown in late 2013. The engine is expected to produce in excess of 220bhp.

 

[Jjay]

I know last year porsche were talking about downsizing from 6pot to 4pot turbos.

Seems most companies are as the power gains are more and then fuel economy is more too.

 

[Oliver]

..... and then fuel economy is more too.

But only in this unrealistic NEDC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_European_Driving_Cycle that is base for the certifaction, not in real life when you push it hard...

 

[Jjay]

But that's like any car when you push it hard... But if we are talking about people driving normally then it will be more fuel efficient

 

[Oliver]

All these small, charged engines have the same problem, for good cycle emissions they have their high cell catalysts very close to the engine, but pretty early (much earlier than an "old" engine) they have to be cooled not to exeed the maximum exhaust gas temperature and that´s done by catalyst protection enrichment...

 

[maggi200]

Yes the tests are flawed, but they are consistent across the board and therefore it should be more fuel efficient compared to the others, if not as fuel efficient as claimed.

It's smaller, more compact and lighter... which can only be good for handling...? No?