A BMW M Hybrid Won't Happen Yet Because The Tech Is Too Damn Heavy
The whole electrification of performance cars thing seems pretty much inevitable. The Porsche 918 Sypder, McLaren P1 and LaFerrari have been leading the charge, but we have seen fast hybrids cropping up further down the food chain. BMW’s own i8 offers Porsche 911 performance with a tiny three-cylinder engine plus electric motors, so how far off is a full-on M Division hybrid? At the moment it’s not possible, according to BMW M CEO Frank van Meel.
Talking to us before the start of the Nurburgring 24 Hours, van Meel explained: “For us it’s difficult as M because power-to-weight ratios are criteria number one, and still the hybrid technology is too heavy to make it a good overall concept,” adding: “That’s why we ended up with a water injected engine for the M4 GTS because we were looking at all kinds of different technology and the water injection added just 10kg to the car to get 70hp [increase].”
So if it’s not doable at the moment due to weight, will it ever happen? The answer is yes, but be prepared for a long wait, says Van Meel: “We’re always looking into what project ‘i’ is doing regarding electrification and if there is any progress in the mid or near future regarding weight and power output. It’s going to happen, but it’s going to take a while.”
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
This tech needs weight reduction bro!
No batteries no problem! Petrol wins!
Utter nonsense.
The M6 convertible weighs over two tonnes.
But it’d probably be two and a half tonnes if it had hybrid stuff onboard…
As long as it doesnt get a tiny 3 cylinder im fine with it
They should replace it with the JCW Mini 4 pot imho
But yet Tesla can make a car that goes 0 to 60 in how many seconds…. BMW you liars…
but when the corner comes…
Instant torque…
It’s complete BS, the P1 weighs 1400 and that has to pull around a big V8 with turbos let alone a 3 pot
Yet strangely, the weight didn’t stop them from slapping M-badges on the X5 and X6
They just wanted to say they produced an M X5 the x6 was so no one could accuse them of being closet hairdressers
There’s a difference between an M-division car and a car that’s been tuned by M-division.
Cars like the M3 and M5 are basically given free reign to do whatever they want to the base 3/5-series, while cars that are tuned by the M-Division (X5M, M225i) mostly only have engine upgrades, and most of the other stuff is handled by BMW themselves
If Hybrid tech was fitted on an M car, would it weigh as much as a small nation?
Yes, because its the wrong technology. A battery will break faster than a normal engine..
Good to know they aren’t planning anything soon. M will stay good for a little longer!
^^^ look whos a hybrid