BMW To Build New Engine In U.K. Facility; Plans Further U.K. Investments

Autoparts Report, Feb 23, 2001

BMW's brand-new Hams Hall factory near Birmingham, England said it is building a brand-new engine, the first in the world to dispense with the traditional throttle butterfly to control engine speed.

In sizes between 1.6 and two liters, the new engine design will appear first in four-cylinder gas form installed in new versions of the 3-series compact due in showrooms in June, the company said. A valve operating system called "valvetronic" replaces the traditional throttle butterfly of carburetor or fuel injected engines with infinitely variable intake valve lift. This, BMW says, reduces exhaust emissions and gives a stronger response from a quieter and smoother engine.

The company claims that the new engine doesn't require a specific grade or quality of fuel to achieve maximum fuel economy and, in an apparent dig at rivals, says "there is no need for oil grades not readily available in the market".

BMW says the Valvetronic technology reduces fuel consumption typically by 10 percent and enables it to meet strict new European Union rules requiring a reduction of range-wide CO2 emissions to 140 grams per kilometer by 2008. The Valvetronic cylinder technology will be introduced on the German automaker's eight and 12-cylinder engines by 2002, the company said.

BMW said it would invest a further $1.5 billion in Britain by the end of 2002, including the $600 million investment in the new engine plant. BMW Chairman Joachim Milberg said the group's planned investment will be for existing and future production plants in Britain by the end of 2002.

"According to our principle that the production follows the markets, we are investing significantly in our main markets in the whole world," said Milberg in a statement. Britain is BMW's third biggest market after Germany and the United States.

BMW caused local controversy last year when it ditched its British Rover middle-range car unit, which had been a drain on its profits, by selling it to an industry consortium for a nominal $15. New investments in Britain will go into modernization of a production plant in Oxford, west of London, which will make the new Mini small car, and into offices and a production plant for luxury Rolls Royce cars in the country where a new generation of vehicles will be produced in 2003, BMW said.