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| “At
last, twin turbos with a butler’s demeanor:
never seen, nor heard, but highly efficient”
Frank Markus, Motor Trend
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One BMW engine has replaced another at the
top of the 2.5-litre to 3-litre standings: this year, the German
firm’s new 3-litre petrol straight-six with two variable
turbochargers, direct-injection and an
all-aluminium crankcase has dominated the category, beating
its diesel sibling
by 129 points.
The technology-packed powerplant, which signalled BMW’s
return to
turbocharged petrol engines after a long absence, has drawn
praise from judges around the world. Commented freelancer Paul
Horrell: “The engine is unique
in its combination of low-rev torque with high-rev exhilaration.
And it’s lighter and more fuel-efficient than the big-cube
V8 that’s probably the only other way to get the same
job done.” Across the Atlantic, Chris Walton of Edmunds.com
was as enthusiastic: “Combining direct injection and turbocharging
will be fundamental
to a new era in power production and economy. Others have done
it, but
none has exploited this combination
to such perfection.”
According to Harald Unger of BMW engine development, the new
direct-
injection system on the engine is a major step forward. “Since
the injector and spark plug are close together in terms
of distance and timing, there are
big advantages compared with first-
generation lean-burning engines, where the fuel cloud was first
sprayed against the piston and then to the spark plug.”
Elsewhere in the engine, materials technology plays its part
in the form
of lightweight camshafts, and turbine blades that are made of
a special heat-resistant steel to withstand temperatures of
up to 1,050°C. |
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points |
| 1. BMW 3-litre Twin Turbo (335) |
383 |
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| 2. BMW Diesel 3-litre Twin Turbo (335d, 535d,
X3) |
254 |
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| 3. BMW 3-litre (Z4, 330, 530, 630, 730) |
98 |
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| 4. Audi/VW Diesel 3-litre V6 (A4, A6, Allroad,
A8, Q7,
Touareg, Phaeton) |
96 |
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| 5. Porsche 2.7-litre flat six (Boxster, Cayman) |
95 |
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| 6. Honda Hybrid 3-litre V6 (Accord) |
79 |
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