BMW M: ‘Four-cylinder is not coming to us’

No less than six cylinders

This week, BMW’s performance department unveiled the new M2, a car that fans of the brand have long awaited. That M2, like the M3 and M4, has a six-in-line under the hood. And it’s going to stay that way, Van Meel says opposite
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. When asked if the traditional six-cylinder will ever have to give way to a four-cylinder or even a three-cylinder, he responded almost insulted.

“I hope that was just a rhetorical question,” van Meel said, after which he clarified that the “real” M models with combustion engines – i.e., not the M Performance versions like the M135i – will continue to get no less than six cylinders under the hood. In doing so, he subtly shares a sneer at Mercedes-AMG. “I know there are other companies that do that, but we’re not going to do that.”

PK race

While it will no doubt be music to purists’ ears, both literally and figuratively, that BMW M puts the lower limit at six cylinders, the brand does lag behind Mercedes-AMG in the HP race. In fact, the plug-in hybrid powertrain of the new C 63 S E Performance produces a combined output of no less than 680 hp, and the M3 with up to 510 hp still can’t compete with that.

On the other hand, due to its heavy hybrid technology, the C 63 with four-pit engine weighs over 2,100 pounds. The M3 G80 puts about 300 pounds less on the road. On paper, with an acceleration time of 3.3 seconds to 100 km/h, the C 63 is therefore only a tenth faster than the M3.

Well hybrid

BMW M, by the way, is working hard on hybrid powertrains, with the new M5 getting the start. The hybrid powertrain almost inevitably also means a weight increase, so we are very curious to see if and if so how BMW M will keep the weight of its cars as low as possible.