[Mark]

BMW Insider Scott26 has posted up some very very interesting and tantalizing news on BMW's future engine productions, which are of course very much in the vein of EfficientDynamics. The new engine in question is a 3-Cylinder engine that BMW has developed for use primarily within the next generation 1-Series (possibly 0-Series?), 3-Series and MINI cars and then would obviously filter its way into other cars in the BMW range in the typical fashion.

Whats most important here is the title. The new engine design will be based on a new 500cc per cylinder philosophy that could be used in a modular fashion in a fashion similar to how manufacturers can build many different sized cars based on a shared platform. So that means engines going anywhere from 3 cylinders to 8 cylinders could use the same design scaled up and down as BMW sees fit.

Because of the additional use of both turbo charging and direct injection, we should see some phenomenal engine output while retaining fuel economy relative to the given engine size.

Here is the original post in his words:

Three to Eight
500cc : A New Base in Engine Design


It is no secret that in terms of downsizing it's CO 2 levels BMW are moving to replace it's current range of engines with new Three,Four, Six and Eight Cylinders.

The new three cylinder will be part of a range of engines utilising a new common 500cc per cylinder base design which also uses Direct-Injection and Turbo charging. This engine will feature in many BMW models but will not be perceived as a Base engine or entry model.

The new 1er and 3er will receive it first but other BMW/MINI models will also inherit this engine.
Forget about the terms associated with Three-Cylinders such as weak or underpowered. This is a BMW engine and for a three cylinder it will offer excellent refinement with a sporting edge plus delivers an excellent CO2 output.
A lighter engine will also contribute to a weight reduction in the car also. The upcoming four cylinder Turbocharged engines in three range variants will also follow this procedure , The first TurboCharged four will be introduced in the new BMW 1er in 2011, and then follow into the BMW X3 which then follows the debut of the all new BMW 3er Sedan in late 2011.
The New range of Turbo charged engines will bring many new innovations for the first time in a new product launch and the 1er is that model.

The idea of using 500cc pe cylinder in future BMW engines which will rise from the 1.5 right up to a V8 will save resources in engine development costs and engine production.

[DBFIU]

Freaking cool.

[sb335is]

id like to see actual output and mileage comparisons. im always skeptical

[ArabianSensation]

3er is getting to be quite a big car to be powered by such a small engine. Hopefully it will be a sufficient enough powerplant. If it is, great, but I won't be buying one

[Mike@F1 Autohaüs]

This will be great for daily commuting

[bavarian19]

[Xyloft]

crosses fingers for a 1500 cc motorcycle engine based on this

[Oulixes]

The race to make engines with as few cylinders as possible evokes the two-cylinder two-stroke engine used to power a German marvel called Trabant. Happily, the two-strokes of yore are currently as politically incorrect as diesels used to be.

[vladberca]

I think it will have about 120hp and will be the base engine fit into 316i model, available in Europe.. For sure we'll not see it for other markets..
I'm curious for the final specs

[smack]

I would love to have this in a 1er hatch here in the U.S. Something very small with a little engine to get back and forth to work would be great.

[RussRamz]

Originally Posted by smack

I would love to have this in a 1er hatch here in the U.S. Something very small with a little engine to get back and forth to work would be great.

+1 Watching all the einser's run around here with the diesel badges makes me feel the same way. These cars easily turn in close to 60 mpg.

[BMW269]

Scott said: "500cc from 3 to 8"

This means:
500cc x 3 = 1.500cc I3
500cc x 4 = 2.000cc I4
500cc x 6 = 3.000cc I6
Actually the V8 is:
550cc x 8 = 4.400cc V8
As Scott said "to 8", it means it will change:
500cc x 8 = 4.000cc V8
But as the V12 is also a 500cc:
500cc x 12 = 6.000cc V12
Why does not Scott say "500cc from 3 to 12" ?
I would then assume that the V12 is going to change and become
this:
450cc x 12 = 5.400cc V12
or even this:
400cc x 12 = 4.800cc V12

But as the new V8 is going to be a 4.0l (500cc x 8), I wounder if we shall see a new V10
500cc x 10 = 5.000cc V10
derived from this new V8, which could take place in the new BMW Z Spyder Stradale ?

[and 1]

Sweet idea....I was about to say "I can't believe no one thought of this sooner," but actually, bmw already has. Look at the e90 6 cyl engines. 3.0L / 6 cylindedrs = .5L per cyl. Or what about the old 540 v8? Wasn't that a 4.0L? 8/4=.5

Btw if none of this makes any sense, I was at an open bar party with my coworkers starting at 230pm yesterday.........

[NL-J]

I thought BMW was about "Freude am Fahren"? How does a 3cyl engine fit into that?






*putting on flamesuit*

[BLITZ]

3 cyl does not belong in a BMW.

[NL-J]

Originally Posted by BLITZ

3 cyl does not belong in a BMW.

Thing is, all cars around here with a 3cyl engine are really small and ugly(that of course is a personal thing ) Daihatsu's, Smarts, Toyota's to name a few. Why would they put a 3cyl engine in a 1 or 3 Series? Fuel economy? I doubt that as I think it would be too small for such heavy cars? Besides that, look at the 320d Efficient Dynamics, that car is awesome when it comes to fuel efficiency but you can also drive it sporty as it has quite some power Why then putting a 3cyl in it?

[cotmfk]

Wow. 3 cyl.

[marcel b]

the 3cyl. will of course be charged and going up to around 170bhp/260Nm. Will drive better then all the current 4cylinders, I am sure.
Sound is something I'm wondering about...

[marcel b]

Originally Posted by Levi

Scott said: "500cc from 3 to 8"

This means:
500cc x 3 = 1.500cc I3
500cc x 4 = 2.000cc I4
500cc x 6 = 3.000cc I6
Actually the V8 is:
550cc x 8 = 4.400cc V8
As Scott said "to 8", it means it will change:
500cc x 8 = 4.000cc V8
But as the V12 is also a 500cc:
500cc x 12 = 6.000cc V12
Why does not Scott say "500cc from 3 to 12" ?
I would then assume that the V12 is going to change and become
this:
450cc x 12 = 5.400cc V12
or even this:
400cc x 12 = 4.800cc V12

But as the new V8 is going to be a 4.0l (500cc x 8), I wounder if we shall see a new V10
500cc x 10 = 5.000cc V10
derived from this new V8, which could take place in the new BMW Z Spyder Stradale ?

I think there will be no 10 or 12 cylinder engines. With the V8 then can go to 600hp... maybe a 12cyl. as prestige / for some markets.

[Imola.ZHP]

^ I agree with what he says...

[magbarn]

Originally Posted by BLITZ

3 cyl does not belong in a BMW.

QFT... No one has been able to design a smooth 3 banger yet. It's an inherently "rough" running design.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by magbarn

QFT... No one has been able to design a smooth 3 banger yet. It's an inherently "rough" running design.

So are I4's, and BMW has a rather long history with those.