REPORT: The future of the BMW 3 Series
The next generation BMW 3-series is set to get some major revisions when it arrives in two year's time. The new model is expected to be the first in the range to get a line of turbocharged three-cylinder engines in both gas and diesel variants, and will likely be 1.5-liter units -- essentially halved versions of the latest generation inline-sixes.
BMW's current six-cylinder diesels use a sequential dual turbo setup with small and large blowers to provide quick response and better top-end power. The new engines may use an electric motor to spin up the turbo more quickly allowing the use of a single turbo for reduced weight and complexity.
Aerodynamics will also be a major focus of the new 3 with the expected inclusion of front wheel air curtains. Ducts in the lower front bumper will route air out just ahead of the front wheels, creating a virtual wheel skirt. The high velocity over the wheels will prevent air coming around the sides and spilling around the wheels, one of the major sources of drag.
Other areas of improvement will include weight reductions, the incorporation of hybrid drive technologies, low-power climate control systems and eight-speed automatic transmissions. All that and more could be in showrooms as early as 2012.
[Source: AutoCar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Aloysius Vampa 4:28PM (8/05/2009)
This is all very interesting, especially the 3 cylinder engines.
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TigerMil 1:37PM (8/07/2009)
Looks like a Porsche.
StriderCDN 4:34PM (8/05/2009)
>>>BMW's current six-cylinder diesels use a sequential dual turbo setup
Incorrect - they are twin turbo.
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waiownsyou 4:37PM (8/05/2009)
dual = twin
Franz 4:43PM (8/05/2009)
What the hell did you think dual meant?
J 2:11PM (8/07/2009)
I believe the diesel engines have sequential turbos: one small, one big. The gasoline engines have twin turbos: two small, same sized turbos.
StriderCDN 4:49PM (8/05/2009)
The word in question is Sequential which the BMW diesels are not. "Dual" turbo setups are either "Twin" (identical turbos) or "Sequential" (one small, one larger).
Big difference when discussing lag solutions to it.
BigMcLargeHuge 4:51PM (8/05/2009)
Snider,
Except you are wrong about which the diesel uses.
They do in fact use one small and one large. There is no lag.
seanleeforever 4:54PM (8/05/2009)
BMW 3 series, at least 335i in N.A. uses parallel twin turbo, not the sequential twin turbo.
StriderCDN is somewhat correct. a sequential twin trubo has only ONE turbocharger for low engine RPM, and a second (or both) turbocharger for high RPM, while a parallel twin turbo alwasy has two turbochargers to boost the engine.
StriderCDN 4:54PM (8/05/2009)
I stand corrected - the Diesels (N57) are sequential (and variable geometry). Fancy!
BigMcLargeHuge 5:05PM (8/05/2009)
Strider (sorry for the mispelling before),
Yeah, the affect is so seamless its almost odd. Feels more like a turbine than a piston-powered vehicle.
Sounds vaguely like one too since you hear the turbo-whine over the engine.
Luis 4:36PM (8/05/2009)
3-cylinder engines? Hmm...how about just holes in the floorboards for our feet? Oh, that's the hybrid version.
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thin 4:44PM (8/05/2009)
WARNING! Danger to manifold!!!
3seriesisking 4:37PM (8/05/2009)
Should definitely be some interesting changes coming up. Can't wait to see them come to fruition.
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Lucas 4:41PM (8/05/2009)
Ha ha... my '91 Geo Metro Convertible had a 3-banger!
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Luis 5:31PM (8/05/2009)
Ha! You have a '91 Metro Convertible with a 3-banger.
MikeW 5:35PM (8/05/2009)
How many fuel injectors did that have?
Lucas 5:36PM (8/05/2009)
I know, really...but I thought it was so cool.
Lucas 5:37PM (8/05/2009)
@MikeW: I dunno.
MikeW 6:08PM (8/05/2009)
The answer is 1!