BMW dumps the 6 for turbo 4's

[Raxe]

BMW street cars were built on silky smooth I6's, probably moreso than even the 4 cylinder. The M30 "big six" was used for 30 years. Then of course there's the M88, M20, S38, S50B32, S54... it's a big deal. Americans have the V8, Italians the V12, Japanese the I4 and the Germans the 6cyls.


Ah well, as my late friend Bob once sang, "The times they are a changing." BMW isn't much for tradition lately.

[xwill112x]

Turbo I6 would catch my attention more...just more of a sportier one. like s54 turbo material in a 135 would be more like it :)

[Massive Lee]

1973 design. Big turbo. Big lag. But hey, it was the first turbo production car. Born in 1973, presented as a 1974 model. Got canned the next year because of the fuel embargo.

[Massimo]

You need to remember there is currently I global warming scare and the end of the GFC. This has lead the way to efficient cars and cost savings.

Now I don't know what you guys know about BMW history but this has a sense of dejavu. I believe it was just after WWII not many people had money and petrol was very expensive. So BMW needed to keep them self’s alive so they adapted to there environment in the creation of the BMW ISSETA. That little car with the door that opens at the front and a 1 or 2 cylinder engine, very funny car!

This I believe was a big seller and helped BMW keep them self’s going at the time. I can't remember very well but I believe this was the same situation around the time of the 2002 as well.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge can elaborate a bit more. This is just the path BMW needs to take to keep them alive. There is no reason that engine will not be reliable or horrible to drive. After all BMW has won engine of the year many times, so I am sure they are up to the job.

[tjts1]

Not offering a 4 cylinder in the US market for so many years was shameful. We're talking about the base engine here. Get over it.

[richardb]

1973 design. Big turbo. Big lag. But hey, it was the first turbo production car. Born in 1973, presented as a 1974 model. Got canned the next year because of the fuel embargo.

Interesting, is that why there are so few 2002 turbo's? Never knew that bit. The efficiency of the cars in Europe is crazy. I drove my aunt's 2009 peugot in Dublin for a week and got gas once. Mind you the price ticker on the pump spins so fast it will also blow you away.

As long as the BMW quality stays high and doesn't turn into the crap audi and vw produce, it's fine by me.

[Morrison]

^This.

2.0L 4cyl. with 260 lb/ft @ 1250 RPM?? How is that possible?

I don't know exactly what techniques their employing here to help bolster the low end torque aspect other then the dual scroll turbine housing. If I were the engineer though, I would incorporate variable intake runner geometry, variable cam, and more stroke, less bore while still maintaining the 2.0 L.

That said, I think a 2.5L turbo four would sound more appealing to me; it worked in the Porsche 951.

[CleanAzzE30z]

BMW isn't much for tradition lately.

True story.

As long as the BMW quality stays high and doesn't turn into the crap audi and vw produce, it's fine by me.

I wouldnt say BMW "quality" has been high by any means when compared to the durability of their older models.

[SpoolnDaapex]

I don't know exactly what techniques their employing here to help bolster the low end torque aspect other then the dual scroll turbine housing. If I were the engineer though, I would incorporate variable intake runner geometry, variable cam, and more stroke, less bore while still maintaining the 2.0 L.

That said, I think a 2.5L turbo four would sound more appealing to me; it worked in the Porsche 951.

High compression, variable valve timing, and direct injection

[tjts1]

High compression, variable valve timing, and direct injection

Is that your formula for 260 torques at 1250rpm?

[bataangpinoy]

it ws only a matter of time.. efficiency trumps tradition these days.

that being said, the m10 and s14 are proven platforms of motorsport success so im excited to see what these new motors will be capable of.

nothing can replace the sound from a bmw straight six though.

[CorvallisBMW]

Is that your formula for 260 torques at 1250rpm?

Yep.

All those things contribute to it, along with variable-vane technology, a twin-scroll turbo and incredibly precise engine mapping. It's not some kind of unbelievable miracle, just progress. In the 2002 turbo the thing didn't kick in until 4000rpm. Today the N55 peaks around 2250. Is it hard to believe that with more advanced technology 1250 couldn't be achieved?

[tjts1]

Well it looks like BMW is way ahead of you on that one.

[CorvallisBMW]

Well it looks like BMW is way ahead of you on that one.

excuse me?

[wannaBMthree]

Following the announcement in February of the return of a 4-cylinder engine to the US BMW line-up, BMW today announced that the new 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-Cylinder will first power the Z4 sDrive28i that will arrive in BMW Centers this fall. Like the company’s latest TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter turbo inline-6, the new 2.0-liter engine will combine highpressure direct-injection and BMW’s VALVETRONIC intake control (hence the name: TwinPower) with a forced induction system consisting of a single twin-scroll turbocharger.
With 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, it offers more power and torque than BMW’s normally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-6 that it replaces in the Z4 sDrive30i.

The maximum output of 240 horsepower is achieved at 5,000 rpm, 1,500 rpm lower than in the normally-aspirated 3.0-liter inline six. The peak torque of 260 lb-ft, comes on stream at just 1,250 rpm. Not only is that 30% more torque than the aforementioned inline-6, it also peaks 1,500 rpm earlier. The vigorous power comes on early and climbs steadily all the way to redline.

http://www.bmwusanews.com/newsreleas...?&id=623&mid=1