A BMW spokesperson has confirmed the engine will not be making its way to UK models, as it is not engineered for right-hand drive.
The turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine has been lifted straight out of the BMW 118i and 318i. That means 170bhp and 250Nm of torque but despite the engine BMW has badged the model as the 520i in Greece, while still offering the larger 2.0-litre petrol version with the same badge.
The smaller 1.6-litre petrol engine also emits more CO2 than the 2.0-litre petrol 520i model, at 161g/km and 149g/km respectively. Economy is also worse at 40.9mpg verses 44.1mpg.
Perhaps the reasoning behind the launch of the engine in Greece is to bypass taxes enforced there, which penalises vehicles fitted with higher displacement engines.