3-Cylinder BMW M Model a Possibility Says Brand Boss
Times are changing in the world of high-performance cars, with better technology and a focus on fuel efficiency causing automakers to look for creative ways to deliver thrills.
That means there’s plenty of directions BMW’s M division can go in the future, one of which could include using a three-cylinder powerplant in the high-performance versions of the German automaker’s production models. BMW is currently working on a compact architecture that will be powered by three-cylinder engines and the M division is intrigued at the possibility.
Speaking with Car and Driver in an interview, Friedrich Nitschke, head of M GmbH, admitted that the “three-cylinder is an attractive engine.” He believes that a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder can achieve over 310 hp. In fact, Nitschke believes that might not even be the limit for those powerplants.
As for all-wheel drive, Nitschke confirmed that it won’t be making an appearance in the current-generation models except for the SUVs X5 M and X6 M. He did leave the door open to speculation, however, as M will take another look with the next-generation M5 – but that’s a long ways off.
Lastly, we can stop expecting bespoke engines from the M division in the future. Though they will still have standalone engines, the future of M models will be built on BMW AG engines, though they will be tuned for more performance, catering to the M customers. But we’ll no longer be seeing special engines built specifically for M models.
[Source: Car and Driver]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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