BMW M has officially confirmed that it will continue to use its classic six-cylinder in-line engines and V8 even after the introduction of the strict Euro 7 emission standards. The company assured that these engines will retain their high power figures and will not compromise on performance, despite the increased environmental requirements.
The challenges of Euro 7 and BMW M innovations
During an interview with Autocar magazine at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel outlined the main problem for modern sports cars in the context of the Euro 7 standard. According to him, the difficulty is not so much in meeting environmental standards, but in maintaining the dynamic characteristics that BMW M customers expect. To achieve this, the engineers had to look for completely new technical solutions.
Van Meel explained that modern high-performance engines usually use fuel not only to generate power, but also to cool the combustion chamber. However, under the new Euro 7 regulations, this approach is no longer permitted, as it leads to increased emissions. BMW M therefore had to optimize the combustion process without using additional fuel cooling, while maintaining the ideal air-fuel ratio. Frank van Meel noted that the company had made a number of "very interesting technical changes" to the engine design, with specific details to be published later.
Loyalty to tradition and future plans
The head of BMW M specifically emphasized that BMW would remain true to its traditions. The inline six-cylinder engine remains a key element of the BMW brand DNA, while the V8 has deep roots in the company's racing history. Both engine configurations will be further developed and used in future M models, including the new generations of the M5, M8 and other sports cars of the brand.
When asked by journalists about the possibility of BMW M switching to smaller three- or four-cylinder engines with subsequent electrification, Frank van Meel gave a clear answer: "No". According to him, such a concept does not correspond to the M philosophy and does not allow achieving the characteristics that customers expect - in particular, high torque, a wide engine operating range and an optimal power-to-weight ratio. Van Meel emphasized: "I cannot imagine an M5 with a four-cylinder engine. It does not fit into what BMW M is."
These statements are actually a response to concerns in the automotive community that tightening environmental standards may force manufacturers to abandon classic engines in favor of less powerful power units or fully electric versions. Instead, BMW M continues to find ways to combine the traditional character of its cars with the new emission standards, without losing its core value - the emotion of driving.