German luxury car maker BMW is planning to produce the 3-cylinder petrol engines at Hams Hall plant near Birmingham in the UK, for its future i8 plug-in hybrid sports car
The plan to make the car's petrol engine in the Midlands is part of company's GBP500m investment in the UK which it had revealed a year ago.
BMW Board of Management member Ian Robertson said, "The new 3-cylinder petrol engines will enable our future BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car to set new standards for dynamic performance in combination with industry-leading fuel-efficiency and low carbon emission levels."
The new engine is expected to generate an output of 349-hp as well as offering a maximum torque of 300Nm, while allowing the car to accelerate the car from 0 to 62 mph in five seconds and deliver 78 mpg under Euro cycle.
According to the carmaker, the 2+2 seater car's plug-in hybrid drive system allows to travel about 20 miles in zero-emission all-electric mode.
BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car is expected to go on sale by 2013.
