BMW’s N20 Engine Review by AutoWeek: Four Cylinders, More Power

AutoWeek, a US magazine, reviews the new BMW four-cylinder TwinPower N20 engine. BMW confirmed last week that the new four-cylinder TwinPower engine will be powering an extensive range of 1 and 3 Series vehicles, but it will be first available in the X1 xDrive28i model that will produce 245 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. This new powertrain offers more torque and power, while having lower fuel consumption. It can be matted to a 6-speed manual transmission or a 8-speed automatic transmission. In the EU test cycle, the BMW X1 xDrive28i runs with 7.9 liters/100 km or 35.7 mpg imp (an improvement of 1.5 liters / 5.7 mpg), has CO2 emissions of 183 g/km (down by 38g). See this excerpt of Autoweek’s review:

“More power, greater torque, reduced fuel consumption, lower tailpipe emissions and less weight–but better? Before driving the BMW X1 xDrive28i, the first model to feature the German carmaker’s new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, we weren’t so sure.

The new engine, known as the N20 and set to lead a return of four-cylinder BMW models to North America for the first time since 1998, has been conceived to (indirectly) replace the company’s long-running naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder. It’s part of an ongoing downsizing program at the center of BMW’s EfficientDynamics initiative.

First impressions reveal the N20 to be up to the job. With peak power arriving 1,600 rpm earlier and peak torque arriving 1,350 rpm earlier than with the six-cylinder, the N20 doesn’t have to be worked hard before delivering its best.

In everyday driving, the N20 is noticeably more responsive, although its sound is nowhere near as alluring as that of the engine it replaces. BMW says that will be fixed on certain models, including on an updated Z4 sDrive28i, with the addition of an electronic sound generator.”

Source: Autoweek