BMW to Debut US Turbo 4-cylinder Z4 sDrive28i and 6-series Coupe at NYIAS

[Jason]

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BMW to Debut US Turbo 4-cylinder Z4 sDrive28i and 6-series Coupe at NYIAS

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UPDATED 4/18/11:

The NYIAS will be upon us this week and there will be two exciting BMW premieres coming to the show:

1) New generation TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine (N20) (tech details) debuts in the first US model - the Z4 sDrive28i

2) New BMW 6 Series Coupe (F13) (info/media)

The new TwinPower Single Turbo 2.0L 4-cylinder N20 motor has already debuted in the European X1 xDrive28i but, at the 2011 NYIAS, this new motor will be presented with the first BMW model to receive it in the United States - the Z4 sDrive28i. The Z4 sDrive28i will replace the sDrive30i and its N52 inline-6 motor.

The N20 motor features direct injection and valvetronic, good for 245hp / 258 lb-ft torque and 35.7mpg - all better figures than the 3.0L inline-6 motor it will replace.

PRESS RELEASE + Expand

BMW 4-Cylinder Engines Return to US in 2011 in the Z4 sDrive28i

New 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder offers performance of a six

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – Following the announcement in February of the return of a 4-cylinder engine to the US BMW line-up, BMW today announced that the new 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-Cylinder will first power the Z4 sDrive28i that will arrive in BMW Centers this fall. Like the company’s latest TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter turbo inline-6, the new 2.0-liter engine will combine high- pressure direct-injection and BMW’s VALVETRONIC intake control (hence the name: TwinPower) with a forced induction system consisting of a single twin-scroll turbocharger. With 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, it offers more power and torque than BMW’s normally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-6 that it replaces in the Z4 sDrive30i.

The maximum output of 240 horsepower is achieved at 5,000 rpm, 1,500 rpm lower than in the normally-aspirated 3.0-liter inline six. The peak torque of 260 lb-ft, comes on stream at just 1,250 rpm. Not only is that 30% more torque than the aforementioned inline-6, it also peaks 1,500 rpm earlier. The vigorous power comes on early and climbs steadily all the way to redline.

The 4-cylinder engine with its all-aluminum crankcase is lighter and more compact than a 6-cylinder engine of equivalent power. The turbocharger is a twin-scroll system. The exhaust streams leaving the two pairs of cylinders are kept completely separate as they flow through the exhaust manifold and the turbocharger, taking a spiral path to the turbine wheel. This configuration results in very low exhaust back pressure at low engine rpm, and allows the energy of the exhaust gas pulses to be optimally managed and translated into powerful rotation of the turbine blades, without a delay in throttle response.

The patented BMW VALVETRONIC system with seamlessly variable intake valve lift control dispenses with the throttle valve system typical of conventional engines. Instead, combustion air mass is controlled inside the engine, resulting in much faster response. Pumping losses are kept to a minimum, making the engine more efficient.

The High Precision Injection direct-injection system also helps to improve efficiency. Centrally positioned between the valves, solenoid injectors with a maximum injection pressure of 200 bar (2,900 psi) precisely control the supply of fuel. The fuel is injected very close to the spark plug, resulting in clean and homogeneous combustion.

The cooling effect of the injected fuel also allows for a higher compression ratio than might otherwise be possible. This results in further efficiency improvements. In the Z4 sDrive28i, we expect a fuel efficiency gain of approximately 20% over the naturally aspirated engine it replaces when combined with the 8 speed automatic transmission.

Detailed performance and efficiency specifications will follow at a later date, but this is clearly a new chapter in the story of BMW EfficientDynamics.

Pics of the z4 sDrive28i in Atacama Yellow, via Jalopnik:


























** Updated with a few more pics from Autospies

[cuban335i]

wow those figures are impressive for the N20!

[DriveHard]

Thats gonna be a screamer.. Im guessing that BMW left alot on the table inorder to get that fuel economy... The tuners are going to run wild..... wooooo hoooo

[kyleb350]

I first misread the title combining the two and thought "wut?"

I wonder why they're not going to first put this in a 1 or a 3

[RX7guy]

Originally Posted by kyleb350

I first misread the title combining the two and thought "wut?"

I wonder why they're not going to first put this in a 1 or a 3

both the 1 and the 3 are near the end of life and due for refresh in 1-2 years. The new 1 and 3 will both almost certainly have this 4-cyl turbo motor.

[scott@bmwhn]

It's will debut in the Z4

[bavarian19]

I think I would rather have this than the 3.0 NA engine in my 328.

[bmwdinamo]

Originally Posted by RX7guy

both the 1 and the 3 are near the end of life and due for refresh in 1-2 years. The new 1 and 3 will both almost certainly have this 4-cyl turbo motor.

The 1 series and the 3 series will certainly get one in their next generation variant; in about 2 years. The 5 and Z4 are the obvious choices to put these engines into since these just came on the scene. The X3 will undoubtedly sport one as well.

[BimmerRob]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

I think I would rather have this than the 3.0 NA engine in my 328.

Explain?

[BimmerRob]

Originally Posted by e92hobear

Explain?

Nvm I read in vice versa. I agree, potential to fit larger turbos?

[Diver]

If this drives as good as the NA I6 it will be very popular with premium fuel over $4 in the US and likely to stay that way for a while.

[IancoleTX]

3 series is going to gain tuneability but lose that sweet wail of that n/a I-6

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by RX7guy

both the 1 and the 3 are near the end of life and due for refresh in 1-2 years. The new 1 and 3 will both 100% certainly have this 4-cyl turbo motor.

Fixed.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by scott@bmwhn

It will debut in the Z4

Agree. I don't think they will make a big deal with the 5 series and this motor - they'll just quietly drop it in for MY2012 or perhaps March 2012 production. Same for X3.

Also, the fact that the debut won't be in the X1 would seem to further bolster rumors that indeed the X1 will be delayed yet again for the US. Though I suppose it could still arrive late this year too.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by bmwdinamo

The 1 series and the 3 series will certainly get one in their next generation variant; in about 2 years.

Actually, the F20 1 series is due this year (internet reveal this month) and the F30 3 series is due early next year (internet reveal later this year). But yes, it will be about two years time before all current variants go out of production (1 series coupe/convertible won't exit until mid next year some time, and 3 series coupe/convertible a year after that).

[lionheart90k]

awesomeeeee

[jmunro]

I think we will see a ton of pretty quick 328i's with tuned N20's... should be an interesting tuning market. It may finally be worth it for someone to manufacture a seperate exhaust manifold for a BMW turbo engine.

[DDS2015]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Agree. I don't think they will make a big deal with the 5 series and this motor - they'll just quietly drop it in for MY2012 or perhaps March 2012 production. Same for X3.

Also, the fact that the debut won't be in the X1 would seem to further bolster rumors that indeed the X1 will be delayed yet again for the US. Though I suppose it could still arrive late this year too.

It'll probably be going into the Z4 because correct me if I'm wrong but that should be due for an LCI, which would make it a good platform to drop it in to. The X3 and 5er will probably just be an announcement (once the initial bugs are worked out with the N20) and be introduced for 2012 MY.

In terms of the X1, when I went to the unveiling of it a few weeks ago the GM of my dealership said that the US will not be getting the X1 at all this year. Up here in Canada though the first ones will be landing by the end of the month or early May. They're very small though but better looking the the X3 IMO.

[DDS2015]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Actually, the F20 1 series is due this year (internet reveal this month) and the F30 3 series is due early next year (internet reveal later this year). But yes, it will be about two years time before all current variants go out of production (1 series coupe/convertible won't exit until mid next year some time, and 3 series coupe/convertible a year after that).

But the NA market won't see the 1er hatch, only the coupes and convertibles which lag by a year or two in terms of release (unless I missed an announcement that the 1er hatch was coming to NA).

[BMWBoss]

Seems like too small of an engine for a big heavy 5 series.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by DDS2015

In terms of the X1, when I went to the unveiling of it a few weeks ago the GM of my dealership said that the US will not be getting the X1 at all this year.

Yes, that seems to be the rumor now. First it was May, then September, now its 2012. BMW's official reason has been that there just is not enough production capacity to accomodate the US. I suspect that while capacity is certainly a factor, there are other things going on here including them wanting to build the fledging F25 X3 market up before dropping yet another SUV on the American public, and also for strategic reasons as far as where the N20 shows up first. I also suspect profit margins on the X3 in the US are much higher than the X1, not least because it is produced here.

Originally Posted by DDS2015

But the NA market won't see the 1er hatch, only the coupes and convertibles which lag by a year or two in terms of release (unless I missed an announcement that the 1er hatch was coming to NA).

True, but even ignoring the F20/F21 hatches, the F22 coupe and F23 convertible are just a bit over a year away.

Originally Posted by BMWBoss

Seems like too small of an engine for a big heavy 5 series.

It should offer better performance than the N52 that is currently sitting in the engine bay of the 528i, just as it has shown to offer better performance in the X1 than the outgoing N52 did. And notably, the X1 was using the ~260hp version of the N52 even.

[sneaks]

is the elantra using this engine?
its direct injection 2.0l twin scroll turbo 4 generates 274hp @ 6000 and 269lb-ft 1800-4500

17.4psi!!! in a hyundai!