BMW‘s turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines, yet up until now, the only small capacity turbo unit we’ve seen from the Bavarian group is the MINI’s 1.6-liter engine that was co-developed with PSA Peugeot-Citroen. Britain’s Sky Motoring is reporting that BMW is well ahead in the development of not only a 1.8-liter turbocharged four pot, but also a smaller 1.3-liter 3-cylinder unit, both of which will be available in the next generation 1- and 3-Series models.
The 1.3-liter 3-cylinder engine is said to be offered in three guises with 163, 201 and 241HP while the larger four-cylinder unit in two variants with 273 and 321HP. That means that the 1.3L unit tops out at an amazing 185hp per liter while the 1.8L at 178HP per liter.
The numbers are suspiciously high for a pair of gasoline engines designated to find their way under the hood of mainstream models such as the 1-Series, so for the time being and until we hear something new, this story remains in ‘Rumorville‘.
