BMW and PSA teamed up to produce the 1.6-liter four-cylinder currently found in the R56 MINI Cooper, but according to an interview with BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer, the four-pot will also find its way into the BMW 1-series. The pre-release of his interview in the Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung didn't divulge which models would benefit from the four-cylinder engine, whether it will be available in both naturally aspirated or turbocharged guise or what markets in which it will be sold.
Reithofer also mentioned that the next generation 7-series, due to be released later this year, would be equipped with a new hybrid drivetrain. No timeframe was outlined as to when the hybrid 7 would be released, but when it is (likely next year), it's expected to be the mild-hybrid, co-developed with Daimler, originally shown on the X5 Vision EfficientDynamics concept.
[Source: Forbes]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael @ May 6th 2008 4:03PM
The 1-series hatchback is so awesome. I wish we could buy them here in the states.
British_Rover @ May 6th 2008 4:13PM
Ehh it looks like a shoe and not in the cool way like the old M-Coupes did.
fizzandpop @ May 6th 2008 4:14PM
One part of me thinks NO! Sacrelege! You buy a BMW mainly for the engine, no one makes a straight six as smooth. Even the fourbangers were a cut above. BMW are screwed.
My other personality (Deborah) thinks that if Audi have been doing it succesfully for years, why can't BMW? It's only the fourpots.
Then the other personality chimes in an reminds me that this is a PSA engine, and aren't BMW supposedly touting themselves as the Independent Car Company? Audi drivers know that their cars are a bit of a VAG parts bin, but they accept this in exchange for a bit of a saving over a BMW or Mercedes. If I'm buying a BMW, every single piece of that car had better be a BMW.
So there, I'm on the fence.
FSM @ May 6th 2008 5:19PM
What saving? I think Audi is more expensive than BMW especially when considering the BMW maintenance plan. Take any BMW and put it up against its Audi competior and you will see the Audi tends to be more expensive.
fizzandpop @ May 6th 2008 5:46PM
Well remind me not to take you with me to the dealer next time. I've have consistantly paid much less for Audis than BMWs in my short (40 year) car buying life. But hey, if you pay what it says on the internet, then that's your bag.
HeyHuub @ May 7th 2008 1:57AM
The 1 series is just like the 3 series already available with 3 inline 4 engines.
A 122hp 1.6, a 143hp 2 litre and a 170hp 2 litre.
Mattias @ May 7th 2008 2:22AM
Ever driven one of PSAs turbocharged DI I4s with BMW cylinder heads? Maybe in a 207 THP? Theses engines are a really great example of the franco-teutonic friendship! The 1.6l with 150hp would be a great replacement of the naturally aspirated engines in the 116i and 118i. They offer more low end torque and are still revving good. As a side effect the consumption will go down. So why not?
Ken Stamper @ May 7th 2008 10:13AM
Man, I thought the main reason to buy a BMW was for the handling. If a four-banger was good enough for the 2002 (not to mention the gen-1 M3), its good enough for me!
Artemiy Pavlov @ May 6th 2008 4:51PM
I am really looking forward to a new 116i!
recrudesce @ May 6th 2008 4:54PM
yay, so now the petrol 1 series are going to sound like rattling diesels like the petrol MINI's do... yay !
my main pet peeve about the PSA engines is that they rattle and sound horrid.
Mattias @ May 7th 2008 3:04PM
Sure? The rattle came frome the Chrysler engines in the last gen Minis. The PSA engines just squeal.
recrudesce @ May 7th 2008 3:22PM
i have a new MINI, it's got a PSA engine - as do all R56 and later.
Random Task @ May 7th 2008 6:17AM
Yes, a Franco-German collaboration- the only way reliability could be worse would be a Peugeot/Fiat collaboration- SACRE BLEU, Fix It Again, Tony!
El Paco @ May 7th 2008 2:28PM
Well, I drive everyday a Peugeot/Fiat collaboration (Fiat Ducato van), and its has more than 300,000 miles (I don't know exactly) WITHOUT a single problem. Talk about stereotypes...