Tuesday 18th September 2012

New BMW 1.5-litre engine revealed

Turbocharged three-pot petrols and diesels to power Minis and smaller BMWs

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BMW has been at the forefront of the engine downsizing revolution. All M cars will now be turbocharged, the entire 1-Series is powered by forced induction engines and the tri-turbo diesel engine produces huge power from three litres.

Now BMW has revealed the next stage of its efficiency push with a three-cylinder, 1.5-litre engine family. They will power the next-generation Mini Cooper, as well as smaller BMW models such as the 1 and 2 Series, and possibly the 3 Series.

The petrols will produce between 122hp and 224hp and 133 and 177lb ft of torque. The diesels will be offered in various states of tune between 82hp and 184hp. Diesel torque figures range from 166-243lb ft which, from a 1500cc engine with three cylinders, sounds pretty impressive. Expect suitably astounding economy and C02 figures when they emerge.

BMW claims that every derivative of the new 1.5-litre three-pot shares 60% of its components and 40% of its structure, regardless of fuel, massively reducing costs.

It has also introduced a range of technologies to boost efficiency and refinement. These include variable load control, direct injection and, on the petrol versions, Valvetronic variable valve control. BMW has also fitted a torsional vibration damper to reduce the innate vibrations of a three-cylinder engine. It is also promising an "extremely vivacious and sporty" exhaust note.

So, with BMW making the transition to smaller, turbocharged units, is the game up for naturally-aspirated engines? Ford would seem to think so, with the groundbreaking 999cc turbocharged EcoBoost engine set to appear in the next Mondeo. But then manufacturers like Mazda are pursuing more efficient production methods to allow for non forced-induction engines to feature in cars like the upcoming 6. Weight reduction could will also play a key role; you only have to look at the efficiency achieved by Lotus models with fairly low-tech atmospheric powerplants to demonstrate the possibilities of 'adding lightness'.

[Hellbound]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTYGej9PgBA

Puts his foot down at 2:14.

[kambites]

Hellbound said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTYGej9PgBA

Puts his foot down at 2:14.

Hmm, quite a pleasant noise but it sounds like it's just coming on song when it changes up. Disappointingly low reving for a petrol.

[After_Shock]

Heard a while back they had this 3 pot running reliably at 280bhp using a few turbos!

[Terminator X]

Find it all very depressing as it's not cars causing "climate change"

TX.

[jbi]

as if BMW's weren't already expensive enough to fix when they go wrong.

[NotNormal]

The only 1.5L BMW turbo engine worth getting excited about...

[Hellbound]

There's enough room left in the engine bay for more turbos.

May as well whack in a supercharger too, VW tfsi styleee.

[junglie]

I think it is fantastic............as soon as they bolt the other half onto the front and make it a straight 6 twin turbo. Wait a minute, haven't we been here before?

[Bisonhead]

Terminator X said:

Find it all very depressing as it's not cars causing "climate change"

TX.

Slightly off-topic but I understand that the Earth has been experiencing a cooling period over the last 120,000 years which is only now levelling out. This of course follows 200,000 years of global temperatures being 4 degrees C higher on average than they are now...obviously all due to cars...oh wait!

[Captain Muppet]

Terminator X said:

Find it all very depressing as it's not cars causing "climate change"

TX.

Still, if it delays the petroleum wars for a year or two it's all worth it.

[The Nur]

Another photo of a proper 1.5l BMW engine

[Pistonwot]

Could be worthwhile if BMW's rediculously fat cars were halved in weight. But they wont be and the tiny engine will be screaming its nuts off nearly all of the time returning poor MPG.

[kambites]

Pistonwot said:

Could be worthwhile if BMW's rediculously fat cars were halved in weight. But they wont be and the tiny engine will be screaming its nuts off nearly all of the time returning poor MPG.

Why woult it be "screaming its nuts off"? It'll probably have more torque lower down the rev range than a similarly powerful N/A engine of twice the capacity.

[will261058]

Terminator X said:

Find it all very depressing as it's not cars causing "climate change"

TX.

Agree fully, but if it makes the fuel last longer then I can put up with it.

[Hellbound]

kambites said:

Hmm, quite a pleasant noise but it sounds like it's just coming on song when it changes up. Disappointingly low reving for a petrol.

He switches to S mode a little later and starts changing up and down using the paddles. Doesn't sound too bad.

[Captain Muppet]

PH said:

BMW has also fitted a torsional vibration damper to reduce the innate vibrations of a three-cylinder engine.

So just like the TV dampers that engines all have already then?

Or something new and interesting?

I'm sure you wouldn't have mentioned it if it wasn't new and interesting, in which case I'd like to hear more about it please.

[kambites]

Hellbound said:

kambites said:

Hmm, quite a pleasant noise but it sounds like it's just coming on song when it changes up. Disappointingly low reving for a petrol.

He switches to S mode a little later and starts changing up and down using the paddles. Doesn't sound too bad.

Still seems to be peaking at under 6k rpm from what I can see? I suppose that's the way the world is going though - might as well buy the diesel, really.

[renrut]

Someone at some point soon will have the bright idea of cutting out the reciprocating bit in the middle.

[The Nur]

currybum said:

The Nur said:

[img] warm engine [/img]

Another photo of a proper 1.5l BMW engine

A new turbocharged DI engine will most likely run between 150-200 degs hotter than that one.

Might well do, won't produce more power though

[tomoleeds]

should mazda be looking this way forward fot thr RX8