Mercedes to use BMW engines

With BMW cleaning up International Engine of the Year awards in several categories, and for several years, it makes sense to profit from its experience in this field.

BMW’s head of development, Klaus Draeger, has been reported as saying that BMW is moving forward with plans to sell its engines to Mercedes, as well as other brands.

“We are ready in principle to sell our engines to a competitor. And yes, we are talking openly with Mercedes about several possibilities,” Draeger said.

Aston Martin was also another name specifically mentioned in discussion. BMW’s V12 is said to be one of the first engines to make the transition across brands.

If the components are the right price, it would make sense for Merc (and others) to take on the engines and concentrate on other areas of its cars.

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Citroen to use BMW engines

Peugeot has been using a range of BMW-sourced four-cylinder engines in its cars for years and now sister brand Citroen has confirmed its new models will also get the British-built engines. The engines come in several different flavours, including turbo and naturally aspirated versions, and range from 1.4 to 1.6L in displacement.

Peugeot uses the engines to power its 207 and 308 models but Citroen hasn’t confirmed which of its cars will use the BMW engines. According to WhatCar?, the new engines will likely debut in the Citroen C5 by the end of the decade. In the Mini, the engines produce outputs of 120,150 and 175hp, and includes direct-injection and variable valve timing technologies.

The key reason for the move is to allow Citroen to take advantage of BMW’s EfficientDynamics engine stop-start technology, which the French carmaker hopes to eventually roll out across its entire lineup. The system Citroen plans to use will be the same as the current design in the Mini, where the engine cuts out while stationary and restarts when the driver selects first gear.

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