About the new 3 Cylinder units – The design principles are basically common for all of BMW’s in-line units, with optimized cylinder modules, each featuring a displacement of 500 cc each.
Thus, the three-cylinder has a 1.5-liter capacity, the four-cylinder is a 2.0-liter and the six-cylinder is 3.0-liters. Moreover, the power developed in each cylinder is between 30 and 55 kW (40-74 HP) and torque from 60 to 80 Nm (44-59 lb-ft) for the petrol engines and 20-45 kW (27-60 HP) and 75-110 Nm (55-81 lb-ft) for the diesel units.
Engines of the same fuel type share 60 percent of their parts, whereas petrol and diesel engines have a 40 percent parts commonality.
The first member of TwinPower family is the 1.5-liter three-cylinder unit. According to the figures provided, the petrol versions will deliver between 120 and 222 HP and 180-240 Nm (133-177 lb-ft) of peak torque, while the diesels will be rated between 80HP and 180 HP and 225-330 Nm (165-243 lb-ft) of torque.
BMW claims that the 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo engines are extremely fuel efficient and provide high low-end torque and rapid response. It adds that the “half of a six-cylinder” unit is free of first-and second-order inertial forces while roll torque, much smaller than the six-cylinder, is eliminated by the use of balancer shaft.
According to the carmaker, the addition of a torsional vibration damper results in a “remarkably smoothly-running engine”, while it also points out that it will sound good.
“Because the frequency of the sound of a three-cylinder engine increases 50 percent faster than that of a four-cylinder, the engine is perceived as being extremely vivacious and sporty,” said BMW in a statement. – Andrew Tsaousis of Carscoop