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BMW showcased its next generation four cylinder 2.0 litre turbo engine at the BMW EfficientDynamics Innovation Days this month. Last we heard, the new engine was going to be codenamed the B48, while the three-cylinder that made its debut in the MINI One, MINI Cooper and the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer is the B38. We understand the six cylinder will be called the B58.

When we were briefed on the new engine in 2012, we were told that output targets were between 40 hp to 67 hp and between 60 Nm to 90Nm of torque per 500cc cylinder for petrol engines and between 27 hp to 60 hp and 75 Nm to 100 Nm of torque per 500cc cylinder for diesel engines.

This would make a 2.0 litre four cylinder petrol engine's output to be between 160 hp, 240Nm to 268 hp, 360 Nm based on those number. The existing N20B28 already does 240 hp and 350 Nm.

BMW-ED-FAMILY

This year's presentation reveals different output numbers. BMW's new estimated output numbers for the B48 engine is between 181 horsepower to 255 horsepower and between 330 Nm to 400 Nm. So we can expect the F30 328i LCI to do 255 horsepower and 400 Nm, up from the existing numbers.

As for diesel, the new engine family's 2.0 litre oil burner will do between 148 hp to 188 hp, and between 330 Nm to 400 Nm of torque, not a big improvement in terms of peak power figures from the existing engine in the likes of the 320d.

We've already tried out the three cylinder B38 in prototype form - read our previous story for a brief test drive impression of the engine installed in a 1-Series hatchback, as well as to read more details on the new engine family. Our man Jonathan James Tan is on his way back from Puerto Rico now from testing out the new third gen MINI so we'll be able to read his impressions of the new engine in the new MINI too.