Don't Panic: Four-Cylinder BMW M Cars Aren't Happening Just Yet, And RWD Is Here To Stay
The trend of downsizing has already claimed the V8 M3 and V10 M5, but for now, it’s looking like BMW M Division won’t be dropping down to four-cylinder engines. Speaking with Motoring.com.au, Carsten Pries - the head of product development at BMW’s performance arm - said that six-cylinder, rear-wheel drive cars will remain the default M blueprint “for the foreseeable future.”
He also said: “If you also look at the M performance models we have added over the last three or four years they have rear-wheel drive as the standard setting and also have six cylinder engines…this combination of six cylinder engines and rear-wheel drive is not just a USP in marketing terms but it is something that really attracts people to our brand.”
Of course, there will be exceptions. It’s long been suspected that the next M5 will be four-wheel drive, and our money is on it retaining a twin-turbo V8 rather than dropping to a six-pot. In addition, you can’t ignore the - as yet unconfirmed - rumours that the next 1-series will be front-wheel drive as opposed to rear. So, what then? Pries says: “If the framework changes in the future, we have to look then at what we can do in terms of a proper or decent M offer.”
That’s a while off though, so for now, let’s just enjoy the six-cylinder noise and tyre smoke.
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
We had no problem with a 4cyl in the e30, so why now?
because fan buys who think bigger engines are always better
Was about to say the same thing. Displacement or cylinder numbers isn’t really everything to a car.
Bmws, like all other cars, have gotten heavy with all the stuff people want in their car today. Most 4cyl just don’t have the guts to move a modern car the way BMW wants.
Back then, there was a n/a 4cyl with character and emotions. Nowadays, every hot hatch has a 2.0 Turbo, which can be a nice engine, but it’s always a bit boring and not worth of being the engine of a M car :)
Phew. Glad to see there’s one German maker which hasn’t lost its way just yet.
That’s good. Would be interesting to see the M5 with a straight six again.
|6 RWD: That’s hoW/// we roll.
Bet a few people are breathing a little easier at CT for the time being.
I seriously wouldn’t mind a 4-pot, small M-division car to take on for example ND MX-5, 124 Spyder or GT86/BRZ. This is the niche that BMW haven’t filled yet and that would be a good move instead of another X-series monstrosity. It’s good that they will stick to I6 with the big boys.
are you listening, Porsche!!
How about the manual gearbox?
E30 M3. One of the best M cars ever made…. and it has a 4 cylinder engine.
But not because of its engine…
You can’t make a 4pot relevant in a premium performance car today. The 4C tried and failed miserably. Hot hatches don’t count here, non premium.
Besides, a 6 cylinder is inherently quietter(mechanical noise) and smoother (significantly so), offering a broad powerband not to mention it has been a staple of Bmw M cars since 1993. Let’s not beat around the bush. a 6cylinder and BMWs go together like yin and yang, complementing each other.
Don’t put the E30 M3 on a pedestal. It’s an icon but that motor is seriously outdated, and in roadtrim never earned powerhouse praise.
i saw one (M2) yesterday evening without camo.. makes pretty decent noise