Despite stricter Euro 7 regulations, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel says the company has no plans to downgrade its performance engines
If you’re buying a modern BMW performance car, chances are you’re after one of two things: a turbocharged inline-six or a powerful V8. But in an era of downsizing, electrification, and ever-tougher emissions standards, keeping those engines alive is no easy feat — as many rival automakers have proven.
Despite a growing lineup of electric models, BMW remains committed to its iconic combustion engines for future performance cars. Speaking with Autocar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel confirmed that the brand’s inline-six and V8 engines will survive the stricter Euro 7 emissions regulations — and without sacrificing performance.
Van Meel explained:
“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.”
BMW’s inline-six and V8 engines remain core to the brand’s performance DNA. The current M2, M3, and M4 all use variants of the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, while the M5 and XM pair a V8 with plug-in hybrid tech.
Van Meel didn’t share technical specifics on how these engines have been adapted for Euro 7, only saying BMW made some “very interesting” upgrades — with more details expected later.
When asked whether BMW M would ever consider shrinking to three- or four-cylinder engines, Van Meel was blunt:
“No… The six-cylinder inline engine is our legacy, and the V8 has got a long history in racing, so we intend to keep going.”
BMW’s leadership has been consistent on this stance. Just last month, CEO Oliver Zipse reaffirmed that combustion engines remain the brand’s “foundation,” adding that BMW will ensure all engines — from entry-level three-cylinders to its most powerful V8s — meet Euro 7 requirements.
