BMW to use 4-cylinder in 1-Series, next 7-Series to come in hybrid

Uh-oh, the 1-series already drives like there's a piano on the roof, will the 4 banger be potent enough?

Maybe you should drive one first and stop these bullsh*t comments. My sister has a facelifted 118i which is a 4-cylinder. The car is agile and responsive and the handling is very good. Two things you'd expect from a BMW.

Is that your professional opinion or did you get that piano on the roof by yourself?

no, if I put a piano up there, that'll be like 2 pianos on the roof. Those run-flats give a hash ride as is, wouldn't want to exasperate that.

kthor,

I've driven my sister's 118i for ages. I know what I am talking about. If you want to argue about the "piano on the roof" feel, go ahead, because I don't know what you're talking about. The 1-Series is easy to drive and control and despite being not a very light car it feels light and handles very well.

Maybe that PIANO should slide down strait to your head, at least we would have one less moron in the world!!!

"The car is agile and responsive and the handling is very good. Two things you'd expect from a BMW."

Those are about the only 2 things you're going to get from a BMW.

I don't know BMW might be shooting itself in the foot. I would think they would have had the 4 cyl in the intro launch but with everyone going crazy about the engine in the 135 and the 128 seems to be and adequate base model. Could they be going for a fuel efficency? And if that's the case wouldn't they be better off going diesel? I don't get it. Well if they go for it it better start off at 22k!

The article never mentions which 4 cylinders would come to the US market, or if they even will. Currently the 1-series in Europe does have a 4 cylinder available, the article just talks about the joint venture with PSA also being used for BMW as well as Mini.

Whether or not BMW will even bring 4 cylinders to the US is in interesting question. With tougher MPG standards it could definitely happen. We'll have to wait and see.

Correct that, the 1 series is available with 3 inline 4 engines, the same which you can get in the 3 series. THe 122hp 116i, 143hp 118i and the 170hp 120i.

And i've left out the diesels.

It's called "choice". Everyone is so power-obsessed these days, or at least until now. It's clear we're moving back to economy-focused engines now. And it's much smarter to introduce the smaller engines after the launch - after the press has been all over it. I think this has been Audi's strategy in introducing cars in the US lately. Start the Q7 off with V8 only, and none of the articles written complain that it's slow. Then bring out the six, when the buzz has died and the car mags will just have a little piece on it. Same with the A5/S5, and I think with the upcoming A4, but I'd think they'd want to bring out the 2.0T to get the volume up quickly.

BMW seems to be copying TOYOTA and lexus with hybrids!

Like if they had a choice...most of the world is crying because of gas prices and the environmentalist are finally gaining momentum on Global Warming...not to mention everybody thinks that hybrids are the holy grail that is going to make our lives perfect again and you criticize BMW for copying because they want to stay in business. I guess it's hard to believe that Toyota or Lexus would ever or have ever copied anything from their German counterparts!

All the article is saying is that BMW will use the turbocharged engine from the Mini Cooper S in the 1 series, which they didn't originally plan to do.
There's already 5 4 cylinder 1 series in Europe: 116i, 118i/d, 120i/d. Having a 3 litre as the base in the 1 sounds ludicrous to me.