Quote:
Originally Posted by Frencholivier
OK, I'll play the forecast game too 
I'd say the F30 LCI with probably keep the 320i and 328i as they are (they are new engines) and the 335i will be replaced by a new version of the N55 engine. My money is greater fuel efficiency and on 330HP/330lb-ft. Whether it will be called 335i, M335i or 340i remains to be seen. Indeed I bet both engines will be a "detuned" version of the M3/M4 engine --both would be double 3-cyl engines BMW (the one recently introduced).
Audi on the other hand will retain the 2.0T apparently bumped up to 225HP (sandwitched between the 320i and 328i). Audi may also introduce their new 3.0T six, mostly in 330HP form, not 270HP.
Mercedes will keep the 250 engine (200HP) and then it's anybody's game.
Overall, BMW has the better, more sensical, lineup. |
the 328i almost competes price wise with the A4 3.0 now, they will keep the same i4 motor, that is for sure, but they can easily increase the boost to up the power to compete on the track with the A4s.
I know a lot of people are waiting for the N55 replacement, but I just don't see it adding power, I think it would be another N54 to N55 like move, same 300 HP but maybe more effecient. If they indeed keep 3 engines plus have a M Performance version and full blown M, I don't think the top line regular version would have 330HP, because speculation is the new M3 will still only have about 415 horsepower (but a big torque jump). So if you had a 335i with 330 horsepower and the M3 with 415, where would you put a M335i? anything over 350 and its too close to a M3.
Right now Audi goes from 270HP with the 3.0 base to 333HP with the S4 version of that same engine. I believe BMW will do something similar with the M performance version of the new 3/4 series and not just the little 20HP bumps the old "is" versions used to get.
Mercedes is not even a contender (except for AMG), their base versions have always been horrible for performance and effeciency, its sad when your MPG for your smallest car in the US is as bad as the C class and your performance is also the worst in the group (again excluding AMG which does an excellent job).