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BMW three-cylinder MINI engine revealed

5K views 1 reply 1 participant last post by  mab01uk 
#1 ·


This is the all-new, BMW 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged engine. It will find its way under the bonnet of next year’s new Mk3 MINI.

Codenamed B38 (petrol) and B37 (diesel), it will come in petrol and diesel forms and is expected to be between five and 15 per cent more economical than BMW’s current N20 four-cylinder engines.

Built on an alloy block, the engine gets Valvetronic variable valve timing, a single turbo, 11.0:1 compression ratio and a longer stroke than the N20. It has been engineered as part of BMW future modular engine strategy, which sees all engines based on the same individual 500cc cylinder.

BMW says the petrol engine will develop between 40bhp and 66bhp per cylinder, giving the various versions power outputs of between 120bhp and 200bhp. The torque outputs are expected to be between 44lbft and 66lb ft giving a range of 132lb ft and 198lb ft.

The B37 diesel engine shares up to 60 per cent of its architecture with the petrol engine and can be made on the same production line. The diesel engine output will range between 100bhp and 181bhp and 166lb ft and 221lb ft of torque.

BMW is also preparing the B48, the four-cylinder sister engine of the B38. It is expected to power models including the next-generation MINI Cooper S, to be shown in late 2013. The engine is expected to produce in excess of 220bhp.
BMW three-cylinder engine revealed | Autocar
 
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#2 ·
From Motoring File:
One of the biggest concerns about MINI’s upcoming three cylinder (after power) is sound. What do three cylinders sound like compared to the current four? Based on first-hand experiences and the video after the break, pretty promising. The three cylinder has a healthy warble and sounds decidedly more aggressive than the current Cooper 1.6L four.

Keep in mind that we believe (thanks to several inside sources) that the N37 three cylinder will debut on the MINI One, One D, Cooper and Cooper D as the F56 MINI launches late next year. The Cooper S will retain the Prince engine for the time being before eventually switching over.

As for transmissions, what we see below is a rear drive application of the 3 cylinder mated to BMW’s amazing 8 speed auto. What will MINI have remains to be seen. But we believe it’s likely either an 8 or 9 speed lightening quick automatic with a six speed manual standard.

But how does it sound? Click through to find out.


MotoringFile Archive MINI’s Next Generation N37 3 Cylinder Engine: Hearing is Believing
 
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