• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

BMW Debuts New R6 3.0L I-6 Powerplant in European-Only 630 Ci

New 6-Cylinder to Power 3, 5, X3, X5, Z4 and More Future BMWs

Of the seventy-five years that BMW has been making motor vehicles, seventy-one of them have been spent perfecting the inline-six motor. Remaking venerable powerplant is serious business, especially considering its the base formula for power of nearly every BMW car made, large or small.

With 1.4 million inline sixes built, BMWs silky-smooth six is the real driving force behind the company. The proof is also in the awards and trophies that have been won over the years. For 2005, BMW will be offering a new generation of its top-line 3.0-liter inline-six, dubbed the R6. It will carry the legendary tradition built up from past 6-cylinder engines.

Nearly every historical BMW ever produced carries the inline-six engine, but for a handful. Highlights of cars

BMW has spent the past 71 years refining the venerable inline six-cylinder engine, and for 2005 will release a new top-line version dubbed the R6. (Photo: BMW of North America)

that featured the famed straight six include BMWs first six-cylinder car, the Type 303 with a 1.3- liter version. Some of the most graceful cars built incorporated the engine configuration, including the 328 of the late 30s, the elegant open-topped Type 335 and the CS-series touring coupes (which also spawned the 3.0 CSL Batmobile). Even more exotic sports cars, such as BMWs only mid-engined M1, which pioneered four-valve per cylinder engine technology and also was the basis for forming the M-division, as well as the unique Z1, a

From the historic 303 to todays M3 powerhouse, almost every BMW ever produced carries a version of the inline-six engine. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

stylish roadster with unique drop-down side doors, featured the engine in various highly-tuned guises. The worlds ultimate sports sedan, the M5, started out with a straight six that seemed to get bigger and better as the years went by (the 90 version was a 3.6 liter growing to 3.8 liters in 1992). Todays hot-rod M3 incorporates a high-revving straight six at the top of its class in performance.

The current top inline-six motor in non-M cars is a 3.0-liter unit codenamed the M54. The 225 horsepower powerplant with 214 lb-ft of torque (231 and 221 respectively in Europe) features Double-Vanos (BMWs version of variable valve timing),

With so much riding on the inline-six engine, BMW engineers are constantly under pressure to ensure new versions of the powerplant live up to their predecessors. (Photo: BMW of North America)

which helps to increase overall output while reducing consumption and emissions from its 2.8 liter M52 predecessor. The awards and accolades that the M54 has picked up are enough to crown it a heavyweight, but for the fact it weighs just 377 pounds its one of the worlds lightest six-cylinder engines.

Powering the 330, 530, X3 3.0, X5 3.0 and Z4 3.0, the engines flexibility is clearly demonstrated in the variety of its applications. BMWs reputation for creating engines that are powerful, yet refined and economical puts great pressure on the engineers in charge of designing a replacement. Their research and development has paid off, or so it seems on paper at least.

Enter the R6, which will one-up the M54 at least as authoritatively

Stronger, lighter and more powerful, it looks like BMW has hit the mark with the new R6 engine. (Photo: BMW of North America)

as the current engine improved on the M52. Rather than calling the R6 a completely new design, BMW refers to it as a redesign. The object was to make it stronger, lighter and more powerful. Addressing the demand for more power, important being that the current M54 lacks punch when stacked up against new competitors from Acura and Infiniti, plus Mercedes-Benz new 3.5-liter V6, the most significant modification is the adaptation of Valvetronic to the M54s design. Already available in four-, eight-, and twelve-cylinder motors across the engine range, it is only logical that its application in a six-cylinder would be next. Valvetronic removes the butterfly valves which control the throttle, replacing them with an electronic motor, gears and rocker arms synchronized to alter valve lift, controlling the amount of air that enters the engine. The addition of Valvetronic has upped the engines redline by 500 rpm

The R6 is one of the first mass-production motors to make use of a highly coveted metal, magnesium. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

to 7,000, while helping to raise power outputs and flattened the torque curve. The new engine posts an increase of 27 horsepower to a total of 258 maximized at 6,650 rpm, while 221 lb-ft of torque is accessible between 2,500 and 4,000 rpm, rather than the peak of 3,500 in the M54.

Page:  1  2

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo