BMW Launching New Engine Family with 1.5L Turbo Three-Cylinder

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is developing new technologies for the future including a new modular engine family, new transmission sensors, energy improvements on electric cars and better aerodynamics. All of these technologies fall under its Efficient Dynamics branding. BMW's goal is to increase efficiency and performance on every new car. 

BMW has created a new modular engine family that it will launch next year. The new engines are based around 500cc cylinder modules that can be combined up to a 3.0-liter inline-six engine. However, the first engine of the new family that will go on sale will be a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine next year. The new engine family has been planned from the beginning to be turbocharged and can be built as either a petrol or diesel. They can also be mounted either longitudinally or transversely. 

The petrol and diesel engines use 60% of the same parts and share 40% structural similarities. With current technologies, BMW's modular engine family produces between 40hp and 74hp per cylinder for the petrol versions and between 27hp and 60hp per cylinder for the diesel versions.

It is also working on new sensor systems that can predict the road farther ahead. It calls these technologies Predictive Power Management system and Foresight Assistant. The Predictive Power Management sensor is linked to the automatic transmission and is able to predict the road further ahead by using the navigation system. That means that the car will now about upcoming road layouts before the driver does and adjust shifting accordingly. The Foresight Assistant works when the car is in ECO PRO mode and forces it to coast more often. 

For electric vehicles, BMW has developed a heat pump that uses 50% less energy than an electric heater and increases range by 30% in freezing conditions. It is also working on embedding infrared heating into the seats that would heat occupants directly instead of blowing warm air on them. This system also means that only the seats where there are occupants can be heated, which saves energy. 

Soon, BMW will have the second generation of air vent control. It uses slats in the front of the car than open or close to improve aerodynamics. The newest version of the system is not simply on or off, it can adjust itself to balance the car's cooling for improved aerodynamics. 

BMW reduced CO2 emissions by 30% in the last 15 years. Its goal is another 25% reduction by 2020.