It’s always been a mystery how BMW gets its awesome acceleration figures. These usually impress us to no end. Just take the 2.0-liter diesel in the new 320d. This might put out only 184 horsepower, but it’s enough to push the 3er to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a hothatch-like 7.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 235 km/h or 146 mph.
BimmerPost today has a very interesting bit of insight into one of the most interesting new BMW engines, the N20 twinpower twin-scroll turbo 4-cylinder inline. BMW would have as believe that through magic the 245 hp unit makes everything go faster than it did with a 3.0-liter normally aspirated unit, which in the EU cycle used to be more powerful.
But there isn’t actually any magic involved. As the N20 is actually more powerful than the Bavarians would want us to believe. A BimmerPost member recently bought a brand new 328i, and he immediately put it on the dyno. The result was a very impressive 226whp... yes, horsepower at the wheel. This should translate to somewhere between 265 and 272 horsepower at the crank. Shame on you BMW! You misled us, but we’re not upset.
But there isn’t actually any magic involved. As the N20 is actually more powerful than the Bavarians would want us to believe. A BimmerPost member recently bought a brand new 328i, and he immediately put it on the dyno. The result was a very impressive 226whp... yes, horsepower at the wheel. This should translate to somewhere between 265 and 272 horsepower at the crank. Shame on you BMW! You misled us, but we’re not upset.