Currently reading: BMW drops M cars' V8, V10
High-revving engines to be replaced by turbo V8

BMW's new M-powered versions of the X6 will be the first car to get a new turbocharged direct-injection V8 as the firm begins to move away from high-revving, naturally aspirated engines for its high-performance models.

Increasingly tough emission standards and soaring manufacturing costs have pushed BMW into the decision, which could alter the intrinsic character of all BMW M models.

The future of the 4.0-litre V8 in the BMW M3's and the 5.0-litre V10 BMW M5 is unclear, as both will make way for forced-induction engines, well placed Munich insiders have said.

The M-badged X6, which will be called xDrive M, is due in June. Its twin-turbo V8 is also earmarked for the next-generation M5, due in 2010.

Based on the X6 xDrive50i's 4.4-litre V8, the new unit is said to virtually match the existing BMW M5's V10 for power, at 500bhp, while providing much more torque - up to 516lb ft.

This should be enough to provide the top-of-the-line X6 with 0-62mph acceleration in less than five seconds.

"In terms of overall performance the new engine doesn't give anything away to the powerplant we run now, but it delivers much better consumption," a senior BMW M official told Autocar.

The moves comes on the back of confirmation from AMG that it is planning to add turbocharging to its 6.2-litre V8 when it introduces direct injection in 2010.

As well as developing its own new turbocharged engines, BMW's M division is also planning to equip new models such as the X6 xDrive M with features such as automatic stop/start and brake energy regeneration to improve fuel consumption and lower emissions.

The M Division is currently testing a new drivetrain incorporating technology from next year's X6 ActiveHybrid. The system uses a nickel metal hydride battery pack to power an electric motor, providing added new levels of performance.

Greg Kable

Join the debate

Comments
17
Add a comment…
inthebin 7 December 2008

Re: BMW drops M cars' V8, V10

jammy_rex wrote:

Tim Oldland wrote:
I have no issue with this. I've done a lot of miles in both a new M3 and the new M5, and to be honest i find their engines lacking. Lacking torque, mainly, which i think is very important in a sports car.

No I completely disagree, and so should most car enthusiasts - Torque is not that important in a sports car!!!! Half of the fun of a sports car, should be stirring a short throw gearbox and ringing out the engine, enjoying razor sharp throttle response and high-end power! Certainly not relying on large amounts of torque in a lazy manner. Yes, maybe in a GT car torque is more important, but not in an out and out sports car!

It will be a very very sad day when/if we are forced to drive forced induction engines and not the pure N/A gems which we have taken for granted up until now...

Yes, but cars are getting heavier so the need for forced induction is greater so cars stay economical. It was great when cars were small, light and had small high revving engines but this is not the case today.
Peter Cavellini 2 December 2008

Re: BMW drops M cars' V8, V10

Come on there's always going to be M- cars, they'll just be second hand and cheaper too, and anyway the recessionb isn't going to last forever and when it does these types of cars will make a come back in some for or another, stop being gloomy an be more positive, and no i'm not mad i'm optomistic!

SandyCR 2 December 2008

Re: BMW drops M cars' V8, V10

TegTypeR wrote:
And the best M car of all time is still the 4 cylinder E30 M3. Not just my opinion, but pretty much everyone who has had the chance to drive the various models. Indeed, if you check out EVO magazines best M car of all time piece, guess which car won.

Well that just depends who you talk to i suppose - yes many magazines fawn over E30 M3s - personally I always prefered my old E28 M5 to my brief flirtation i had with an E30 M3. I read the hype - took the plunge (even went to germany for the bloody thing!) and was distinctly underwhelmed...and sold it to a slight profit 6 months later - so a silver lining of sorts. It is always a danger of believing magazine opinion when personal preference is so much more telling. As much as I rate the Autocar scribblers - there's many occasions when i've tried or worse still bought something with their fawning adoration ringing in my ears to then come down to ground with a crunch. Maybe i expect too much, maybe i just buy too many cars! But I do sometimes get rather weary of hearing motoring journalists fawn over cars they have never had to actually live with (or pay for!) ...thats why I always loved the AC long term tests...and hearing journalists opinions of their own actual cars that they spend their own actual hard earned cash on!