MINI lineup and BMW i8 to get a three-cylinder engine in the United States.
BMW AG board member Ian Robertson declared during the Paris Motor Show that “hybrids with a three-cylinder engine are coming rapidly.” According to a BMW source, this engine will be used for the MINI lineup and also for the highly anticipated i8 plug-in hybrid in the U.S.
As far as the European market is concerned, BMW will use three-cylinder power units for the company’s upcoming models based on the UKL1 platform. The same source added that the engine might make it into non-hybrid cars
as well.
as well.
The same UKL1 platform was used by the German automaker for the recent Concept Active Tourer unveiled in Paris last week. It is powered by a three-cylinder 1.5-liter TwinTurbo engine that works together with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. Together they develop a combined output of 188 hp (140 kW) and 147 lb-ft (200 Nm) of torque, enough for a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in “less than 8 seconds”.
Nm) of torque, enough for a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in “less than 8 seconds”.
Source: autonews.com
