4 pots + 2 turbos = BMW straight 6

[msm]

No Cyril, this is not just a mildly tweaked BMW X1 - the good stuff is under the bonnet.

The new X1 xDrive28i has BMW's first two-litre, twin-turbo, four-cylinder engine, based on the Blue Propeller Company's 225kW, three-litre straight six with high-performance twin-scroll turbos, direct petrol-injection with new solenoid injectors and the latest version of its Valvetronic variable valve control 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 to reduce back-pressure at low revs and minimise turbo lag.

All of which is good for a claimed 180kW at 5000rpm - 55kW more than the best previous BMW two-litre petrol engine - and 350Nm from just 1250rpm.

That'll take the new X1 from 0-100 in 6.1sec, says BMW, and on to 240km/h, at a cost of only 7.9 litres/100km, 16 percent less than the previous X1 28i (not offered in South Africa) with naturally-aspirated straight six. CO2 emissions are quoted at 183g/km.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, with an eight-speed self-shifter as an option. Standard-fitted EfficientDynamics technology includes brake energy regeneration, a shift indicator, auto stop-start and on-demand control of ancillary systems.

The new X1 28i also has the xDrive all-wheel-drive system with an electronically controlled, multi-plate clutch continuously varying the power split between the front and rear axles.

It's integrated with the car's stability control to respond quickly to the first signs of over or understeer, improving cornering dynamics and traction in slippery conditions or on gravel.

The electronic driver aids package includes integral antilock brakes, dynamic brake control, cornering brake control and dynamic traction control, which raises the stability control’s response thresholds to make it easier to pull away in snow, mud or sand. It also has a brake drying function - for wet-weather driving - and compensates for brake fade.

An optional performance control matches the drive torque at the rear wheels to driving conditions for even more agile performance, applying controlled braking pulses, with torque compensation, at the first sign of understeer on slippery surfaces or in hard cornering, and sending more power to the rear axle.

From the second quarter of 2011 the X1 will also be available for the first time with an M Sports package, including sports suspension and 17” or 18” double-spoke M alloy rims.

The M package also adds an aerodynamics kit, door sills with the “M” logo and glossy shadow-line trim for the side-window surrounds and roof rails. Interior trim includes sports seats upholstered in a cloth/alcantara mix, a leather-trimmed steering wheel with multifunction buttons, a dark grey roof liner, dark cross-brushed aluminium interior trim, a sports gearshift lever for manual models and a leather handbrake lever gaiter.

BMW SA has not yet confirmed when the X1 xDrive 28i will be released in South Africa.

Source: IOL Motoring

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That is pretty impressive for a 4 potter. I guess this engine will feature in the 1 and/or 3 series pretty soon ...

 

[zaleonardz]

I dont think this is a bad thing,

Those figures are damm impressive, both power and consumption, and although many will call this blasphomy, the world is changing, for idiotic reasons of course (global warming crap), I think this is a well calculated move that will assure the prosperity of BMW, which is what we all want...

 

[moranor@axis]

i think all cars should be boosted i just wish they would rather go the less efficient but lag free supercharger route...

 

[msm]

.. the world is changing, for idiotic reasons of course (global warming crap), I think this is a well calculated move that will assure the prosperity of BMW, which is what we all want...

I'm sure if a BMW fan from 1990 time travelled to today, the oke would die of a heart attack - BMW performance diesels, force fed ///M, ///M SUVs, twin turbos .... :mmm:

 

[Sankekur]

I am not a big fan of BMW turbos and turbos in general, but what I don't understand is why they don't just call the stuff as it is, in this case using the numbers x28, when in reality it has nothing to do with anything, why not just call the 2.0l twin turbo x20tti, this way the numbers al least mean something. (the same with x25, x40 etc)

 

[moranor@axis]

it does get confusing but i think it would look a bit silly to have a 320tti on the back... if you think about it the number on the back is just a measure of performance and now days engine size does not really play such a big part in how much power comes out...

 

[zaleonardz]

Its a marketing trick to dis-associate the concious connectations to the 320i or 320d with something new....

I would think at least..

 

[Ephraimramodike]

That's quite impressive I must say!!!

 

[P1000]

i think all cars should be boosted i just wish they would rather go the less efficient but lag free supercharger route...

Go test drive a 330d or a 335i, you will be surprised at how little lag there is.

 

[moranor@axis]

sure you can minimize it to the point that most drivers would not notice I have driven quite a few good turbos but when you on the edge nothing beats NA or a supercharger for control... if i wanted to drag race i would have no problem with a turbo but drag racing has never been what bmw are about...

 

[Clownshoe]

Maybe someone coming from the 90s would have a heart attack, but someone coming from the 70's would have a big smile!!!

So is this a new thing or is motorsport going back to its roots now that technology has made it worth while?

 

[moranor@axis]

i still think its mad that basic engine was in an F1 car

 

[Spy007]

MMMM A nother option for the gopher....

 

[Major]

i think all cars should be boosted i just wish they would rather go the less efficient but boring supercharger route...

 

[moranor@axis]

as opposed to the cheap turbo route

not everything on a merc is boring a SC offers the advantage of having a small displacement when you dont need but it also gives you precise engine response that NA cars have so really it offers the best of both...

 

[Coisman]

BMW new 4-cylinder turbo engine

BMW's new forced induction four
wheels 24, 2011-01-20 08:22

BMW’s revealed its first four-cylinder forced induction petrol engine in decades.

The company’s latest TwinPower N52 engine is a two-litre four-cylinder with oversquare internal architecture (90.1mm bore x 84mm stroke) and a single turbo spun by twin-scroll exhaust plumbing.

It produces 180kW at an engine speed of 5000rpm and 350Nm at only 1250rpm - so it's powerful and efficient, thanks to the presence of dual-VANOS camshaft control and Valvetronic individual valve-lift technology.

BASED ON ONE OF THE BEST

This new turboed engine is essentially a truncated version of the three-litre N55 single-turbo six-cylinder engine which has started to replace the award-winning N54 twin-turbo six throughout BMW’s range.

The N52 will bear ‘28i’ badging when deployed across BMW’s product portfolio. Its first application will be in the X1, as xDrive28i.

BMW claims the new engine returns a combined consumption figure of 7.9 litres/100km in the company’s entry level SUV but still gives a stirring performance that's underscored by a 0-100km/h sprint time of only 6.1sec.

The brand's new range of forced-induction petrol engines (once a concept not even up for discussion at BMW HQ) has prioritised twin-scroll/single turbo tech as the most efficient way to re-route exhaust gas to drive turbine-boosted air-intake pressures.

Initially BMW's return to petrol-engine turbocharging was courtesy of the company's award-winning N54 engine introduced in back in 2006 with two turbo. This engine has been usurped by a single-turbo update, the N55, signaling that Munich's engineers have found one turbine to be quite sufficient, thank you...

Vehicle Specs
Manufacturer BMW
Model xDrive28i
Engine 2l turbo
Power 180kW @ 5 000r/min
Torque 350Nm @ 1 250r/min
Zero To Hundred 6.1 sec
Top Speed 250km/h
Fuel Consumption 7.9l/100km

 

[Sankekur]

I don't know, I would have expected a bit more than 180kW from a 2l turbo engine.

 

[msm]

I don't know, I would have expected a bit more than 180kW from a 2l turbo engine.

I think they tried to balance the engines power with a bit of low down torque, hence the slightly lower power output - still impressive for a 4 cylinder though.

 

[Sankekur]

Meh, probably, it just seems to me that the BMW turbo engines aren't really as good as would be expected, they seem to be pretty much the same or not as good as other engines on the market.

 

[P1000]

Meh, probably, it just seems to me that the BMW turbo engines aren't really as good as would be expected, they seem to be pretty much the same or not as good as other engines on the market.

Where do you get that notion from? Look at the audi 4-pot 2.0t, 155kW, same torque. Most of the other manufacturer's engines don't make nearly the kW they claim, and it is easy to make plenty of kW, with a very high boost threshold, and tons of lag. This car has all the torque on tap from 1250rpm. this means it is very drivable, probably has negligible lag, and will be much more fuel efficient, since you don't have to rev to 4000rpm just so you don't stall at the robots...