BMW Surprises With New Turbocharged Engine

Should you end up behind a BMW 3-series or 5-series sedan with “35i” concluding its model designation, you’d expect to find the same twin-turbo inline six under the hood. And you’d be right to do so; after all, that excellent engine has gained much fame powering both these vehicles.

But, should you end up behind the awkward derriere of the new 5-series Gran Turismo, you might recognize the familiar 535i badge, but you’d be mistaken to assume it would indicate the presence of that familiar twin-turbo engine. Sure, the displacement is the same (3.0L), but the turbocharger count has been dropped to the singular. Supplanting the dual turbos with a single twin-scroll turbo, the output is the same familiar 300 horsepower from 1,200 to 5,000 rpm, but promises to offer better fuel economy than the twin turbo engine.