New 3 series: A BANGLE quote & turbo 3.0 on hold

[Kirby]

Apparently Bangle or his bosses heard the howling over the 7 & 5 series

From Auto Week:

The 3 Series is the cornerstone of BMW’s business, accounting for a whopping 57 percent of its global sales last year, with 528,258 units sold worldwide. BMW knows it can’t afford to be too radical with this car, otherwise it will risk sending buyers to key rivals like the soon-to-be-facelifted Audi A4, Cadillac CTS and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

"The basic form of the 3 Series is long established," said recently promoted design boss Chris Bangle. "It’s the proportions that are important; we have worked hard at getting them right. We want to make a new statement on an old theme."

...

An earlier plan to equip the new 3 Series with a turbocharged version of the new 3.0-liter inline six gasoline engine is on hold, sources say. The new engine is designed to close the gap between the normally aspirated 3.0-liter inline six and a new, 4.0-liter 400-hp V8 earmarked for the next-generation M3, due out in 2006. The engine is not yet durable enough for production.

 

[xLibelle]

interesting news, not surprising... i thought we were rid of that tasteless... *insert vile remark*


...the A4 is getting a face lift? mmmmm Audi


(xLibelle already left the building)

 

[tool fan]

interesting news, not surprising... i thought we were rid of that tasteless... *insert vile remark*


...the A4 is getting a face lift? mmmmm Audi


(xLibelle already left the building)

Hopefully it doesn't inherit that new grill from the A6. That thing is kinda funky lookin'

 

[Chesty Bonds]

An earlier plan to equip the new 3 Series with a turbocharged version of the new 3.0-liter inline six gasoline engine is on hold, sources say.

Please don't let this be true. If BMW went down the turbocharged road i would be absolutely horrified. I've always admired the fact that they build stonkingly powerful NA engines without the turbo lag or, lets face it, gimmickery.

 

[Kirby]

Please don't let this be true. If BMW went down the turbocharged road i would be absolutely horrified. I've always admired the fact that they build stonkingly powerful NA engines without the turbo lag or, lets face it, gimmickery.

Yeah, I agree. But unfortunately they have to watch what the competition is doing, and it may become a "necessary evil" in order to stay in a given market segment. Turbo = cheap horsepower and it seems like the market for cheap horsepower is growing.......

 

[Tom]

Nice find Kirby. How old is this article? I assume this was written before the revealing of the next generation 3-Series?

 

[MrElussive]

BMW has never been one to take the "cheap road" though. There is an easy solution to BMW's problem: just make the current 2.5 and 3.0 engines a little bit bigger. If they follow these current engines' 74-75 horsepower per liter ratio, a 2.7 liter I6 and a 3.2 liter I6 would produce 200hp and 240hp. That's just a general statement, but it's not a bad idea, right? I'm sure the new 3-series' engine bay would be able to handle a 3.2 liter I6 instead of the 3.0 (and obviously it would be able to house a 2.7 liter engine). I'm not saying that my exact numbers should be followed, but my point is a slight bump in engine displacement would really help compete with the 3-series alternatives while staying true to a naturally aspirated setup.

 

[Kirby]

Nice find Kirby. How old is this article? I assume this was written before the revealing of the next generation 3-Series?

It's dated 8/16/04 on Auto Week. I thought I had posted a link to it in my original, but it's not there, so I guess forgot.

Auto Week

 

[Chesty Bonds]

BMW has never been one to take the "cheap road" though. There is an easy solution to BMW's problem: just make the current 2.5 and 3.0 engines a little bit bigger. If they follow these current engines' 74-75 horsepower per liter ratio, a 2.7 liter I6 and a 3.2 liter I6 would produce 200hp and 240hp. That's just a general statement, but it's not a bad idea, right? I'm sure the new 3-series' engine bay would be able to handle a 3.2 liter I6 instead of the 3.0 (and obviously it would be able to house a 2.7 liter engine). I'm not saying that my exact numbers should be followed, but my point is a slight bump in engine displacement would really help compete with the 3-series alternatives while staying true to a naturally aspirated setup.

I completely agree. There is nothing wrong in my eyes with a large six cylinder engine. I also think its rather pointless this 'power war' between the German manufacturers - i mean where does it stop? Don't get me wrong, i love powerful cars but i really don't, for example, see the point of the CL 65 AMG.

Turbocharging just seems like a shortcut to the headline-grabbing power output and i feel that BMW should be beyond that sort of folly.

 

[aNoodle]

BMW has never been one to take the "cheap road" though. There is an easy solution to BMW's problem: just make the current 2.5 and 3.0 engines a little bit bigger. If they follow these current engines' 74-75 horsepower per liter ratio, a 2.7 liter I6 and a 3.2 liter I6 would produce 200hp and 240hp. That's just a general statement, but it's not a bad idea, right? I'm sure the new 3-series' engine bay would be able to handle a 3.2 liter I6 instead of the 3.0 (and obviously it would be able to house a 2.7 liter engine). I'm not saying that my exact numbers should be followed, but my point is a slight bump in engine displacement would really help compete with the 3-series alternatives while staying true to a naturally aspirated setup.

Like bring back my 2.8? I knew I had a classic on my hands. LOL.

Yeah, they could go to a 3.2 I guess. Doesn't the M3 have a 3.2? If they make an upgrade in displacement it will come after the second year, if they repeat their last play book. It almost seems inevitable considering the competition, I agree.