Next generation small petrol engines from BMW

[Deleted member 25]

Actually 3 cyl are not that bad, they sound good and can be very nervous & responsive engines.

 

[Mr Robert]

The first prototypes of the MegaCity Vehicle 1 otherwise known as the MIN-i will feature petrol engines developed from the motorrad division specific for this car.
Economical , efficient and with one possible "S" Version an extra kick.
The use of such engines are to justify the MINI-i 's intentions as an innovative mobility concept.

Will that be 3 cylinder boxer engines, then?

 

[bmer]

Will that be 3 cylinder boxer engines, then?

LOL a flat-3 engine? I'd like to see how that works.

 

[cawimmer430]

Am I the only one who likes this idea? The baseline is simple: Times are changing and even luxury manufacturers have to adapt and evolve themselves as well as the wishes of their customers.

We are moving into a direction where more people find the idea of owning a luxury car with a powerful and efficient engine far more interesting than a luxury car with a powerful and inefficient engine.

 

[Centurion]

From a manufacturer's perspective, having 10 car models hare the same engine is a phenomenal way of keeping costs down because engines are incredibly expensive to develop. Mercedes, Audi and other mass producers are most certainly looking into it.

As always with economic decisions, the big losers are the consumers who will have to fork over big bucks just to buy a naturally aspired engine. Turbo charged engines are not everyone's cup of tea and I fear that car buyers in the market for a NA engine will be hogged.

 

[bmwownage]

I just doubt the numbers though, how a 1.35L can do 180hp, a 1.8L I4 can do 240hp, 350nm.. does this mean high compression/high strain on the engine resulting in shorter life? 240hp/350nm is not something that a 3.0L I6 M54 can do, and that engine is just 9 years old.

 

[Wolfgang]

...Mercedes is also looking into 3 cylinder engines. Here's one, from the current smart fourtwo cdi. I think it might be the current record low fuel consumption in Germany?
With 3.3 l/100 km or 71.3 MPG in US numbers.

 

[coolraoul]

^^ The first gen smart had four-cylinders Mercedes motors.

The smart Forfour had a 1.5l three cylinder cdi motor derived from the Mercedes A-Class.

The current fortwo is featuring Mitsubishi motors, AFAIK.

 

[Wolfgang]

^^ The first gen smart had four-cylinders Mercedes motors.

The smart Forfour had a 1.5l three cylinder cdi motor derived from the Mercedes A-Class.

The current fortwo is featuring Mitsubishi motors, AFAIK.

coolraoul, the 3 cylinder I was refering to was developed by Mercedes a little later, and started production in 2007. It also has a turbo, which makes up to 290,000 rpms. Can sound like a little jet at times...

"New smart diesel engines start production
A 45 hp (33 kW) common rail direct injection turbodiesel with 799 cc displacement for the new smart cdi started production on a new line in Kölleda, Thüringen. The smart cdi was certified to consume 3.3 liters per 100 kilometers which translates to 71.3 MPG in US numbers emitting only 88 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer.
Mar 20, 2007"

 

[bmwblog]

The first prototypes of the MegaCity Vehicle 1 otherwise known as the MIN-i will feature petrol engines developed from the motorrad division specific for this car.
Economical , efficient and with one possible "S" Version an extra kick.
The use of such engines are to justify the MINI-i 's intentions as an innovative mobility concept.

so it's the decision final? The Project i cars will carry the MINI brand? No Isetta or other names?

 

[Cashmere]

wow! Never imagined that I would live to see a 3cyl powered 3 series.

 

[cawimmer430]

wow! Never imagined that I would live to see a 3cyl powered 3 series.

Maybe you'll live long enough to even see a 2-cylinder 3-Series!

 

[Sunny]

I wonder how many of these engines will ever see cylinder crazy US, probably just the 240HP one - but I would love to see that one in a mini.

 

[Mr Robert]

LOL a flat-3 engine? I'd like to see how that works.

I'm a lawyer, I'm not supposed to have the details in these questions and since I'm fairly oprimistic I have no trouble at all imagining this happen. I mean, if VW can make a V5 engine work, why not a B3?

 

[Deleted member 25]

What do you think about a star 3 ? _I_

 

[coolraoul]

Maybe you'll live long enough to even see a 2-cylinder 3-Series!

How about one with no cylinders at all, making the noise of an electric shaver?

 

[Mr Robert]

What do you think about a star 3 ? _I_

Very cool! But that might be more of a Mercedes thing...

 

[Monster]

I'm a lawyer, I'm not supposed to have the details in these questions and since I'm fairly oprimistic I have no trouble at all imagining this happen. I mean, if VW can make a V5 engine work, why not a B3?

The VW V5 has an extremely narrow V angle, i think it was something like 15 degrees between the cylinder banks, so only a single cylinder head is needed and the mechanical layout is very similar to an inline 5. A flat 3 will cause some serious balancing issues.

What do you think about a star 3 ? _I_

They have that already.

 

[Mr Robert]

The VW V5 has an extremely narrow V angle, i think it was something like 15 degrees between the cylinder banks, so only a single cylinder head is needed and the mechanical layout is very similar to an inline 5. A flat 3 will cause some serious balancing issues.

That is probably very true. Boxer engines with an even number of cylinders, on the other hand, are very nice and balanced.

Same thing with inline 6 engines. I really hope BMW does not go dowm dorky-road and start using V6 engines.

 

[EnI]

I really hope BMW does not go dowm dorky-road and start using V6 engines.

Start think about it. Just in case.

There is an V6 prototype being tested right now. Much better configuration for the twin-turbo tech. Not to mention a bit lower center of gravity - since the engine can be a bit lower.

But there is still the weight issue, and the even bigger one: running refinement issue.

Yet they are working on that. Very hard.

Still ... the new generation of I6 is also being in development. So, there are pluses & minuses on both sides.

If they can make it to create V6 which is close enough to I6 in characteristics - then, sorry, V6 will be used.