Dr. Klaus Draeger says the new N37 3-cylinder engines is not a priority for new BMW 3 Series

Autocar UK got the opportunity to interview BMW’s head of development, Dr. Klaus Draeger about the the next generation BMW 3 Series and the all-new N37 three-cylinder engines. Dr. Draeger clearly said that the new engines are not a priority for the 2012 3 Series and will be first used in the upcoming front-wheel drive BMW cars.

“They are not a priority for the 3-series, we’ll start with the front-wheel drive architecture and more price-sensitive models,” Draeger said.

Draeger also confirmed that future BMWs will use new turbocharged three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. He said that the petrol version of the engine has the potential to match the maximum 54bhp-per-cylinder rating of the firm’s recently introduced turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder N20. The suggested 160 horsepower will be enough to power the new and lighter BMW FWD and MINI cars.

Draeger also said that these engines will be able  to meet C02 emissions of 95g/km.

However, these engines will not come cheap. “The three-cylinder engines are not cheap. They are every bit as hi-tech as our four and six-cylinder engines,” Draeger said.

Source: Autocar UK