3 for 3

BMW'S modular range of turbocharged engines has produced a notable variant to the 3 Series line-up halfway into this compact model's life cycle - a three-cylinder 318i. Where once the smallest 3 Series sedan used to have 1.6-litre four-cylinder under the bonnet, the entry-level model is now the 1.5-litre turbocharged 318i.

The three-cylinder unit comes from BMW's Efficient Dynamics engine family, which uses a half-litre cylinder as the building block for this three-pot, as well as the four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines.

And the result is highly inspiring.