BMW switching to turbocharged M cars
After two decades of normally-aspirated high-revving engines shoehorned under the hoods of its M cars, BMW is changing direction and will begin to offer direct-injection turbocharged powerplants in its future high-performance flagships. The German automaker is blaming tough environmental emission standards and the soaring manufacturing costs of the specialty-built V8 and V10 engines found in today's M3, M5, and M6 models for its decision. We also suspect the fact that both Audi and Mercedes-Benz have successfully offered torque-laden forced-induction powerplants for years on their performance models may have something to do with it (also keep in mind that an aftermarket-tuned version of BMW's own twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 can easily match the power output of the M3's normally-aspirated 4.0-liter V8). The first new M model to carry the turbocharged honor will be the X6 xDrive M, with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 reportedly making 500 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. That same engine is reportedly going into the next F10-chassis M5 due in late 2010.
[Source: Autoweek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Jason 9:58AM (11/27/2008)
Woohoo! It would be good to see an M3 powered by a straight-six again.
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BigMcLargeHuge 10:33AM (11/27/2008)
I'll bet there's no limit to the power BMW can muster from these 2 plants.
Generation-to-generation, all they have to do is improve airflow and cooling.
Alex 10:38AM (11/27/2008)
Screw the inline-6 config. Sure, it's perfectly balanced, but is heavy and long.
I would like to see a highly stressed 4-cylinder on a lightweight M3, to revive the glory days of the E30 M.
And to hark back to the awesome BMW 4-cyl turbos in F-1 cars.
Jake B 2:22AM (11/28/2008)
Inline-6 would be where its at. They have a certain howl that is deep and grumbly like a v8 but sonorous like an inline 4. Its why I couldn't pass up the 240z.
Michael 9:54AM (11/27/2008)
You know, if money didn't matter, I would definitely rock an X6 M.
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Mobius_1 10:17AM (11/27/2008)
As odd as the X6 looked, especially when it was new, it actually looks really fantastic and cool. And if there was an M version as well, then awesome.
Turbos FTW.
ropeburn 10:42AM (11/27/2008)
someone who lives near me owns an X6 and I didn't like it at first glance.... maybe I need to give it another look but I think I'll find it ugly.... especially from the rear quarter view.
Cheers to you BMW for realizing the benefits of Forced Induction.....tuners rejoice? or fear factory supported competition?
why not the LS2LS7? 11:48AM (11/27/2008)
I don't care what BMW thinks, there's no such thing as an X6 M.
zamafir 12:52PM (11/27/2008)
@ why not: I'm with you. When Audi puts a 500hp engine with 737 lb ft of torque in the Q7 they don't call it an RS model, they call it the Q7. Then again, they're constantly improving the handling and performance of their cars with each generation. This smacks of marketing and less of substance. What's it going to take to get BMW to focus on cars which simply drive well? Is there anything more ridiculous than having to press a button then navigate half a dozen menus to get the best performance out of your car? I'm not entirely sure why BMW is so intent on steeling the pointless electronics impeding driving pleasure mantle from Mercedes so much.
RJ 6:32PM (11/27/2008)
The X6 is the absolutely most pointless thing BMW has ever made. It has:
The room of a 3-series
The handling of an X5
The speed of a 550i
The price of an M5
The looks of Bangle in his prime of stupid designs.
What's there to like? Why can't people just get a 5-series wagon?
Will Design for Food 5:27PM (11/28/2008)
@RJ
You've obviously never driven an X6. They handle much better than an X5, and any other SAV/SUV. Sure, they don't have the space of an X5, but handling in the X6 is ridiculously good.
madgamer 10:28AM (11/27/2008)
So if I'm understanding that right, the v8 M3 will only be around for like 2 years?
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3seriesisking 11:16AM (11/27/2008)
Better get one while you can.....lol... I'm not too upset that they are switching to turbos, my 335 is quicker than the last gen. M3 any how, lighter engines and hopefully cars would be great to see from the Roundel.
eeeealmo 10:50AM (11/27/2008)
so what does this say for the speculated '09 z4m with a v8?
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f3rg 11:02AM (11/27/2008)
Those morons should have never put a V8 in the M3. I'm glad, for whatever reasons/excuses they come up with, that they're going back to smaller engines.
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TigerMil 11:04AM (11/27/2008)
so when BMW absolutely splatters the GT class with their NA V8, that means nothing for the street.
Turbos, naah.
Turbo diesels, yes...
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asdfasdf 11:06AM (11/27/2008)
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...
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I own one 11:23AM (11/27/2008)
My dad drives a saab turbo and mom drives a VW turbo. and I drive a Audi S4 twin turbo. All of our cars are fast and drive great.
akboss 1:12PM (11/27/2008)
What's the S4 2.7TT like to drive? Would be interested to know from someone who has driven both - I can pick up an '01 S4 for $13K, or I could take a drop in power for an '04 VW 1.8T.
why not the LS2LS7? 1:18PM (11/27/2008)
akboss:
There's a big difference between a 1.8T and a 2.7T.
The 2.7T has a little better fill-in power (like the DI 2.0T has), but both are good in normal driving.
The big difference is the 2.7T has a lot more pull and power when you drop the pedal. The 2.7T pulls hard (full rated torque at 1850RPM) and where the 1.8T starts to drop off at 4000RPM and redlines at 5500RPM, the 2.7T pulls hard all the way to the 6500RPM redline.
If you're gonna flog it, the 2.7T is far more rewarding, but if you aren't going to do that often, it might not be worth it, because the 2.7T is a large iron block and thus makes the car heavier and makes the handling less rewarding. You can always put fatter tires on to compensate a bit, but it's still going to feel heavier.