First Reviews of TwinPower 4-cylinder N20 Engine in X1 28i

[southlight]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

First Reviews of TwinPower 4-cylinder N20 Engine in X1 28i

72
COMMENTS

Tweet

Some weeks ago, we brought you information on BMW's new turbo inline 4 petrol engine (N20B20) making its debut in the X1 xDrive 28i. Reviews from the first new X1 xDrive 28i press drive event in Slovenia are slowly trickling in this week, so here's a roundup so far.

In sum, all reviews out so far have nothing but good words for the new engine. The only drawback mentioned coming from the N52 is the engine sound. Other than that, all mags loved the low end torque which BMW apparently managed to combine with enough grunt at the higher revvs.

FYI, BMW has also hinted at the 1-series hatchback and the 3-series getting this engine when the new models launch later this year and early next year, respectively.

There's also speculation around a new range-topping X1. Some refer to a possible X1 xDrive 35i sporting the N55 engine, some even consider an X1 M being possible.

There's no word yet if the turbo inline4 petrol engine will be available when the X1 makes its US debut this Fall.

Stay tuned for more information and pictures on this new engine. In the meantime, enjoy these select quotes (which we translated) with respect to the new turbo 4 engine:

Motorvision.de

"Driving the car you'll notice immediately that the engine response is excellent. There's virtually no lag, and the four cylinder delivers its torque strongly and evenly. An 8 speed automatic transmission is optional while all test cars were equipped with the standard 6 speed manual. There's no need to work the transmission while cruising as the engine allows you to keep high gears and low revs. High revs make the BMW let loose, and the engine revs more freely than other turbocharged 4-cylinders. The 2-litre turbo in the Golf GTI pants for air whereas the BMW engine reminds of someone breathing out calmly during a workout. The famous exhaust grunt of an inline 6 is gone, and there's a different feeling -- despite all its power. Driving the four [cylinder] appears to make for a good feeling, but it's no six [cylinder].

N24.de

BMW enthusiasts probably worry the most about this: How's the engine sound? Not like a naturally aspirated 6-cylinder, that's for sure. But it's neither meant nor possible to do so. The turbo engine is smooth, yet sounds a bit grumpy while accelerating. At very low revs you even might hear a Diesel sound. That being said, this makes for a distraction only rarely.

Spiegel.de

During our first drive, we could hardly notice it's an engine with two fewer cylinders -- not even while focusing on the engine sound. [...] If anything, it's only at full throttle that you would miss the distinctive sound of bigger engines. As expected, the 4 cylinder makes for a sound that's more faint and hoarse.

Share this story

OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Turbo 4-cylinder (N20) Motor Animation

Compared: BMW Turbo Inline-4 (N20) vs Audi 2.0TFSI

First Photos of BMW TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder Engine (N20)

[Raine]

I wonder if you can tune this engine...

[UdubBadger]

you can tune anything, just need the right people working on it.

[Bimmer Nerd]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

you can tune anything, just need the right people working on it.

+1

[hppypaul]

They better lower the price since I won't pay extra to have a 4 vs the old I6.

[bdardashti]

Originally Posted by hppypaul

They better lower the price since I won't pay extra to have a 4 vs the old I6.

Don't expect to see a drop in price. Not a penny. Prices are based on value, not features. As for as the general public, this is same value as the old 6 (better power, better fuel economy, but sure its a four (which is becoming coming) and no I6 sound (which most people won't care much about)).

And, this is going to be the common offering from the competitors in this space. Audi already has a 2.0T, and MB is apparently coming out with a turbo 4.

[Lucky13]

How does the 6 have more power? Most versions of the current 2.8 NA have 230 or 240 HP, the turbo 4 has 245. Much more torque in the turbo 4 (about 15%) so better gas milage and more power.

[Deltari09]

Well...it seems that the "BMW I6 ENGINE NOTE" category has just been added to the official automotive cuss-word list. (e.g. "Italian car's soul")

[positiveions]

should be interesting model: light and powerful

[Diver]

You can tune anything, but the turbo four ships with 1.2 bar of boost as compared to the N55 with .6. That should tell you that BMW has not left that much on the table for the tuners to play with.

[bdardashti]

Originally Posted by Diver

You can tune anything, but the turbo four ships with 1.2 bar of boost as compared to the N55 with .6. That should tell you that BMW has not left that much on the table for the tuners to play with.

What is that figure for tuned N54 engines? I don't have information on tuning, so I'm just trying to get a relative number...

[Yogijet]

This is certainly good news but I'll be chasing after the inline 6s wherever they may lie.

[Diver]

Originally Posted by bdardashti

What is that figure for tuned N54 engines? I don't have information on tuning, so I'm just trying to get a relative number...

I don't have a solid answer to that. You need to ask that in an engine mod forum. I have seen all sorts of numbers in ramdom posts starting at about .8 bar on up.

One should also be aware that BMW has intentionally made it harder to tune the new engines starting with the N55. They are concerned about the effect on residual value when tuned cars blow up after the orignal owner removes the tune and costs associated with CPO warranty. There is a news release somewhere that explains this.

Let's face it, a big part of the tuning culture is to get away with something by removing the parts before bringing in the car for service. Likewise, emissions that are regulated by law, don't seem to make a difference.

I have no doubt that BMW centers can tell when an engine fails from excessive boost. Also, I suspect claims by vendors of tunes that all codes can be removed from an N55 will turn out to be incorrect. That is not to say they are misrepresenting anything, only that there are some tricks they will not be able to discover due to software encryption.

Think about it, you are about to buy a used 2008 and the seller assures you never raced, wrecked or tuned. A month later it starts smoking and you are looking at a bill for thousands of dollars to have a partial rebuild of the engine because someone had tuned it. Nobody likes to talk about this around here, but it is a dirty truth about too much boost.

[bklounge]

So which car was this engine tested in?

[akhter]

Originally Posted by hppypaul

They better lower the price since I won't pay extra to have a 4 vs the old I6.

lol dream on bro...

this engine is more powerful, has better gas mileage and is lighter (guessing since its a 4 not a 6).

in which universe does that equate to lower prices?

[bmwdinamo]

BMW is ahead of the pack once again. When the new 3 sedan comes out next year year it will be better than all of it's competitors: better mpg and more hp.

[Taipei-TT]

I can't wait for this engine in an f32.

For many people like me who live where displacement is taxed, turbos are a godsend. I also enjoy the feel of a turbo 4 having come from an audi TT. Audi's 2.0 was a blast and I bet bmw's will be even better. As for tuning, with that pressure I agree with others there is not a lot of room for tuners. And then add next generation software which ought to make hiding your tracks virtually impossible. Plus, if you wanted to tune this, why not just step up to the n55 and get the power and warranty together?

[persian54]

Originally Posted by bklounge

So which car was this engine tested in?

X1

[Robert]

As advance as some may say about this I dont want a civic or focus engine in my bmw. Only makes sense if the platform is less than 2500 lbs.

[hwelvaar]

Originally Posted by bmwdinamo

BMW is ahead of the pack once again. When the new 3 sedan comes out next year year it will be better than all of it's competitors: better mpg and more hp.

Don't forget to raise your BMW fanboy flag.

So you're saying that at this time, the pack is ahead of BMW?
VW/Audi has always been pretty good with 4 cilyinder turbo engines...

[Ryan_T]

^


VAG has been doing good 1.8T and 2.0T engines for over a decade. Hyundai has a turbo-four which is even more powerful (on paper) than this engine. BMW is the last one to get on this wagon.

[MRE90M3]

Hyundai turbo powered engines are from a company whose been in the turbo fours even before my birth. Mitsubishi.