During the SMMT 2012 International Automotive Summit in London on Tuesday, the BMW Group announced that its brand new 3-cylinder petrol engines for the upcoming i8 plug-in hybrid sports coupe will be produced exclusively at the firm’s UK engine plant at Hams Hall, near Birmingham.
Just last week, the Hams Hall facility celebrated the production of the three millionth engine since the plant was opened in February of 2001.
Business Secretary Vince Cable commented: “BMW’s decision to produce engines for their i8 plug-in hybrid sports car at Hams Hall is more good news for the UK automotive sector and underlines its growing competitive strength.”
On the i8 Coupe and Spider Concepts, the high-tech 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine produces 217-horsepower (220PS) and 300Nm (221 lb-ft), and works together with a 129HP electric motor, for a combined output of 344-horses (349PS) and 300Nm.
BMW says the plug-in hybrid setup allows for a 0-62mph (100km/h) acceleration time of under five seconds combined with an average fuel consumption in the European cycle of about 78mpg (3.0 lt/100 km).
However, all the aforementioned performance and fuel economy figures are estimates for the concept model, as BMW has not yet published final numbers.
Ian Robertson, BMW Board Member, said: “The new 3-cylinder petrol engines will enable our future BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car to set new standards for dynamic performance in combination with industry-leading fuel-efficiency and low carbon emission levels.”
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