BMW juices up I-6

Hunger in the U.S. for more power, as well as increasingly stiff competition, is driving BMW AG to bulk up its inline 6-cyl. engines. The flawless 2.8L appears overmatched by competitors' higher-output sixes, so it's soon to be replaced by a new 3L variant with considerably more horsepower (225, up from 193) and boosted torque, too (214 lb.-ft., up from 206). The 3L is the base engine in the new 2001 X5 3.0i Sports Activity Vehicle, and it will power the 330Xi all-wheel-drive (AWD) sedan, likely arriving this fall, followed by an AWD wagon. The new engine also will be available this fall in the 330i sedan, the 330Ci coupe and the 330Ci convertible, the company says.