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# How BMW is keeping its performance petrol engines alive
- URL: https://torquecafe.com/bmw-m-keeping-v8-straight-six-alive/
- Published: 2025-07-21T23:24:40.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-04T11:02:52.000Z
- Description: BMW M has committed to straight-six and V8 power despite ever stricter emissions regulations, while ruling out a Mercedes-style downsizing.
- Author: Jordan Mulach
- Tags: News, Performance

BMW appears to have learnt from the mistakes of its long-time rival Mercedes-Benz by committing to keep big engines in its large performance cars, even as emissions nets threaten their existence.

Mercedes-Benz’s AMG has drawn criticism in recent years for ditching V8 engines in some applications for six- and even four-cylinder hybrids. While the smaller engines are more efficient and can be even more potent, potential buyers have bemoaned the loss of the theatre of a V8 or a high-strung six.

Speaking to the UK’s [*Autocar*](https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/technology/bmw-m-straight-six-and-v8-survive-euro-7-emissions-rules?ref=torquecafe.com), BMW M CEO Frank van Meel said his performance brand won’t ditch its iconic sixes and V8s, and there’s no chance of seeing three- or four-cylinder hybrids.

“The six-cylinder in-line engine is our legacy, and the V8 has got a long history in racing, so we intend to keep going,” Van Meel said.

![](https://torquecafe.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/crop_P90492774_highRes_the-all-new-bmw-m3-c.jpg)

BMW M3

“I couldn’t imagine putting a four-cylinder in an M5.”

Ironically, the M5 was BMW’s first ‘legacy’ model to go plug-in hybrid, with the latest version of the super sedan (and wagon) getting electrical assistance for its twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8.

The only four-cylinder model in BMW M’s production car history is the original E30 M3, with every other generation of the icon being powered by a six-cylinder engine, except for the V8-powered E90 generation.

According to the executive, BMW M will “keep performance” in its new-generation engines, detailing “the challenge was not so much to make an engine that is EU7 compliant”.

![](https://torquecafe.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/bmw-m5-touring-scaled.jpg)

BMW M5 Touring

“The whole story is about driving with lambda one \[when the air-fuel ratio for combustion is perfectly matched\] so you have to keep that, and there’s no cooling. Normally, if you are in high-performance situations, you cool using the fuel.

“With EU7, that’s impossible, so you need to find different ways of avoiding temperature build-up.

“The combustion process has to be improved in regards to heat build-up and also the cooling, and those are the challenges. Of course you can \[reduce\] performance to avoid this temperature increase, but you don’t want to - that’s where we started.

“The new balance of performance is that we drive lambda one, but we don’t want to lose performance.”

As reported [earlier this year](https://torquecafe.com/next-bmw-m3-to-keep-turbo-six-petrol-power/), the rumoured next-generation ‘G84’ M3 will likely be the last to be offered with petrol power when it enters production in 2028, though it’ll also be sold alongside an all-electric alternative.

> [Next BMW M3 to keep turbo-six petrol power](https://torquecafe.com/next-bmw-m3-to-keep-turbo-six-petrol-power/)