BMW Motorsport to develop a turbocharged four-cylinder engine

[SSense]

A few months back, BMW decided that in 2011, it will run with a turbocharged four-cylinder engines in both the World Rally Championship (WRC) and World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). The 1.6 liter turbocharged engine could make things more profitable for BMW if they decide to run in other FIA racing series since the engine is one of the costliest components in these cars.

In an recent interview with Motorsport-Total, BMW Motorsport director, Mario Theissen, confirmed that BMW will develop a similar engine in the in the coming year. The engine could be fitted into the BMW 320si and it could be used beyond the 2011 racing championships.

Another topic that came up in the interview was around the BMW Z4 GT3 reported by us yesterday. The 480 horsepower car, powered by the M3’s V8 engine, comes out in 2010. The 298,000 euros Z4 GT3 will be available for private racing teams.

GT racing remains very highly valued at BMW and in 2010, Motorsport division will focus more on the GT program. Theissen mentioned that the American LeMans Series will continue next year, therefore Dirk Muller, Tommy Milner, Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen will race around in the coming year with the two M3 GT4 cars.

Theissen also talks about a possible BMW M3 GT2 returning as a customer’s car, but there are still many regulations to consider at this moment.

With more and more powerful four-cylinder turbocharged engine, we cannot wonder what the future will bring in the production models as well.

Source: bmwblog

[Ayham]

Now that's talking! Hopefully a 2.0L TC version would come out next..Would love to see how a 1-series with such train would rank with the likes of EVOs and Imprezzas!

[Bruno]

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If they want to introduce a wrc version of a car I doubt it will ever be a 1 series... I think there will be a completely new awd model or maybe a completely re-engineered version of the current 1 series.

[Ayham]

Offcourse it's going to be re-engineered!! :slap:

And they wouldn't build a new model to enter racing, it's usually the other way around.

[Bruno]

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I prefer if they build a new model... Because reengineering a heavy car means that we won't get a proper street version :slap:

[ahmad.alkhalil]

ooooh... this is interesting! I vote for a completely new car, would be interesting to see what they come up with :D

[Ayham]

Picture this:

A 1-series done in CF/fiberglass, front-med engine layout, roll cage and the works running on OZ rally rims :D

[Wazif]

hmmm interesting....both theories are valid, however, I feel they would work on the 1 series and make it a rally spec...then probably release a street version....with the recession and the slow upturn of the economy, ppl would prefer spending less on a car....by introducing a new model, u r talking bout additional production costs...

just my $0.2 worth

[Haissam]

just my $0.2 worth

20c! :rofl:

:runaway:

[Wazif]

hey....gotta make up for some lost business during this downturn :P