BMW Says U.S. Urge for food For V8 Engines Is ‘Above Common’

BMW secured the V8’s future years in the past when it introduced plans to tweak the “S68” to fulfill Euro 7 laws. The dual-turbo, 4.4-liter unit may take pleasure in a good longer lifespan in the US, the place emissions requirements are much less stringent than within the EU. Within the meantime, People proceed to indicate their love for large-displacement engines.

A BMW spokesperson has instructed Automotive Information Europe that demand for V8 fashions stays “above common” within the U.S. Moreover, the corporate official believes eight-cylinder engines will stay a sizzling commodity amongst People within the close to time period. To that finish, manufacturing of sure engine elements in Munich will proceed past the beforehand introduced deadline.

The historic web site was initially slated to turn into an EV-only plant by the top of 2027. Nonetheless, it would proceed to supply cylinder heads, crankcases, and crankshafts for V8 and V12 engines past subsequent yr. In the meantime, sequence manufacturing of the electrical i3 sedan is scheduled to start within the second half of this yr.

America’s robust urge for food for V8s shall be mirrored in future merchandise. Due within the coming months, the next-generation X5 and the 7 Sequence facelift will retain all eight cylinders. Subsequent yr’s X7 and the X6 arriving in 2028 may also proceed to supply V8 energy of their high variations. It could make sense for the “Rugged” SUVreportedly due in 2029, to characteristic the S68 engine as effectively.

On the identical time, BMW ALPINA sub-brand will provide V8 engines for the 7 Sequence LCI and the second-generation X7. The stately sedan may debut later this yr because the G72, although it received’t go on sale till 2027. The latter, codenamed G69, is unlikely to reach earlier than 2028, on condition that the BMW-badged mannequin isn’t anticipated to debut till someday subsequent yr.

Elsewhere, the already noticed M5 LCI will retain V8 energy in each sedan and wagon kind. In an ideal world, BMW would launch a devoted eight-cylinder supercar, however that ship seems to have sailed. The M Imaginative and prescient Subsequent idea, which got here extraordinarily near receiving the inexperienced mild, was powered by an inline-six.

Talking of smaller powertrains, BMW has additionally pledged to maintain six-cylinder engines alive. The most recent B58 will characteristic within the upcoming M350 sports activities sedanwhereas the full-fat M3 is anticipated to make use of a mild-hybrid S58. Each high-performance 3 Sequence variants are prone to be supplied solely with all-wheel drive and an computerized transmission, mirroring the bigger M Efficiency and full M fashions.

BMW’s dedication to its largest engines, together with Rolls-Royce’s V12comes at a time when EVs have reached a report share of complete deliveries. In 2025, EVs accounted for 18% of gross sales. Add plug-in hybrids into the combination, and electrified automobiles reached 26% of general quantity. Catering to each ICE and EV crowds is clearly paying off, as BMW wrapped up one other yr forward of rivals Mercedes and Audi.

Supply: Automotive Information Europe