Good News for Enthusiasts – BMW Inline-six V8 engines to Survive Euro 7

Abu Dhabi : This comment comes as a reassurance to fans at a time when rivals like Mercedes-AMG are shrinking their engine sizes significantly.

• BMW’s M performance cars will keep using their inline-six and V-8 engines for now, says Autocar. 
• The magazine spoke with Frank van Meel, head of the M division, who confirmed these engines meet the upcoming Euro 7 emissions rules set for next year.
• Van Meel also dismissed the idea of replacing the M5’s V-8 or replacing the inline-six with a four-cylinder. Buyers won’t see a Mercedes-AMG C63-style switch any time soon.

The M division has put rumours to rest. Van Meel confirmed that M will keep its iconic engines into the late 2020s, as new hybrid tech supports this move. This confirmation has come at a time when many sports car brands are changing their engines to cut emissions.

The brand believes drivers will appreciate the balance of power and fun, even if it means not meeting the strictest emissions targets. This decision shows their commitment to style and performance over rushing into new technology.

Maintaining high performance without losing power

With Euro 7 emissions laws approaching, Van Meel told Autocar UK that the challenge isn’t just about meeting standards. The goal is to maintain high performance. BMW says both engine types will meet tougher rules without losing power. They plan to achieve this through better combustion and improved cooling systems.

The main point is to maintain lambda one, meaning the air-fuel mixture is perfectly balanced for combustion. You need to keep this ratio, but there’s no cooling involved. Usually, in high-performance cars, cooling is done with the fuel. With the new EU7 rules, that’s no longer possible, so other ways must be found to prevent the engine from overheating.

The six-cylinder inline engine has been part of the brand's history, and the V8 has a long racing past. It plans to continue using both. Van Meel explained that BMW has made some smart adjustments to keep these engines legal while still performing well.

In late 2023, van Meel made it clear that BMW has no plans to introduce smaller three- or four-cylinder engines, even if EV systems are added. The company feels that such setups don’t match what an M car stands for.

More Talk, Less Tech - What Buyers Really Want

Surprisingly, BMW’s research shows that over 95% of M buyers don’t care about the engine type, as long as the car feels like an M. They want a car that connects with them on a visceral level, with lively handling and a satisfying engine sound. Even if hybrid four-cylinders could match the power, they wouldn’t give owners the same driving feeling.

Market-Specific Choices - V8 Still Thrives Where Fans Want It

BMW also says this approach considers the different markets. In the U.S. and the Middle East, buyers still love V8 engines that are smooth and loud. A turbocharged inline-six, even with equal performance, doesn’t give the same appeal. For BMW, hybrid systems like those used in the XM SUV are meant to fill the gap, not replace traditional engines.

However, BMW is not ruling out electrification altogether. The hybrid V8 models like the XM and upcoming M5 G90/G99 combine old-school power with electric motors. Yet, there are no plans to add four-cylinder engines to smaller M models. When asked if a four-cylinder could go into an M5, van Meel said that he can’t imagine putting a 4-cylinder in an M5.