BMW just upgraded the new M3 to a V8 powertrain, but now the automaker is looking at replacing the engine in the future with a more fuel efficient twin turbo inline 6-cylinder engine.
Norbert Reithofer recently told Auto Motor und Sport that BMW is considering smaller engines with less cylinders for its "M" lineup. If you think back to the first M3 it actually offered a 4-cylinder, but today the current M3 has a V8 engine and the M5 and M6 models use a V10 engine with 500 horsepower.
Reithofer also stated that across the board all BMW's will start to feature smaller engines with twin turbo technology to improve performance. Pretty much everyone is figuring out ways to produce smaller engines with the same power as their larger predecessors thanks to our insane gas prices.
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Comments (6)
And here we are again. I'll stick to my 15 year old tech since even the big companies seem to be going back to it. RB26DETT FTW!!!
Posted by Skyline GT-R R-32 | March 28, 2008 2:01 AM
Posted on March 28, 2008 02:01
"Pretty much everyone is figuring out ways to produce smaller engines with the same power as their larger predecessors thanks to our insane gas prices."
Everyone already knows hows to produce small, high-power turbo engines but people who can afford BMW M-cars want a smooth, torquey*, multi-cyclinder engine with a progressive power curve.
It's not due to our gas prices, it's due to CAFE standards.
Posted by Noya | March 28, 2008 5:17 AM
Posted on March 28, 2008 05:17
The newest M3 is way too big, that's the problem. It started off in the e30 @ 2650 lbs, e36 was 3125, e46 was 3415 and the newest e39 M3 is 3700. The oldest one might not have been super duper fast, but it was (rumored to be) just as fun to drive.
The fun of driving decreases with the weight of the car. Even the 135i is 3373. BMW's inline 6 weighs more than the M3's V8!
Stupid crash safety crap has added ~500 pounds to cars over the last 20 years. What a bummer. : o (
Posted by Cheap Car Lover | March 28, 2008 8:42 AM
Posted on March 28, 2008 08:42
well observed Cheap Car lover thats 1000lbs since the cars inception
Posted by dennisil | March 28, 2008 1:53 PM
Posted on March 28, 2008 13:53
"Stupid crash safety crap has added ~500 pounds to cars over the last 20 years."
Yet they'll never stop the number one cause of deaths in car accidents -- driver stupidity.
Posted by Totenglocke | March 28, 2008 3:57 PM
Posted on March 28, 2008 15:57
Exactly, Cheap Car Lover.
I took over a short-term lease (10 months) on a Porsche Boxter a couple of years ago...an absolute blast to drive even though it had all of 201 bhp.
I'm currently thinking of taking up a cheap project car, either a 1999+ Miata or a mid-engine Toyota MR-S (either would receive forced induction). I would love a Lotus Elise, but I'm just too poor to buy one and lease takeovers are next to impossible to find.
Posted by Noya | March 28, 2008 8:29 PM
Posted on March 28, 2008 20:29