Word out is that BMW has unveiled a prototype of a 1-Series which is equipped with a water injected turbo petrol unit during the BMW Group Innovation Days 2015. The prototype is powered by a 1.5-liter turbo petrol 3-cylinder engine with 218 PS. BMW says the water is injected “as a fine spray into the intake manifold plenum chamber where it evaporates, extracting energy from its surroundings and reducing combustion temperatures in the engine by around 25° C”. The reduced combustion temperatures lead to lower emissions and up to 10% higher power figures.
BMW has fitted this prototype with a system that replenishes the water level from the air conditioning system when the vehicle is switched off. Therefore until extreme weather conditions, the driver doesn’t need to refill the water levels in the car.