Three-cylinder VW & BMW ?

Look for smaller engines for BMW’s and Volkswagen’s upcoming models, as high fuel prices and greater environmental concerns push buyers towards engines with lower displacements. VW’s plans to introduce a new three-cylinder version of the Golf appear to be going forward, according the carmaker’s development chief Ulrich Hackenberg. As a part of this environmental push, VW will also present hybrid variants based on its TwinDrive technology .

BMW, likewise, is looking to downsize to three-cylinder engines for its base models. A source close to both companies revealed the plans to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. For BMW, its three-cylinder engine will first be used in the next-generation 1-series due out in 2011 The engines are presently in testing and are still about two years away from launch. While BMW has yet to confirm these reports, the new three-cylinder engine will displace 1.35L and output between 120hp (90kW) and 180hp (135kW) in various guises. The carmaker is also expected to reveal a new four-cylinder engine to replace many of its six-cylinder units, which will displace 1.8L and output up to 240hp (180kW).