by BMW M Does Not Plan to Reduce Engine Displacement Due to New Emission Standards
Despite the constant tightening of environmental regulations, which have already “buried” many legendary engines, BMW M guarantees that their power units will not be added to this list. The head of the M division, Frank van Meel, during a discussion of the future Euro 7 standards, stated that the brand’s current engines will remain unchanged – both in terms of displacement and power.
“I cannot imagine a four-cylinder engine in the BMW M5” – noted van Meel.
What the New Euro 7 Standards Entail
The Euro 7 standards, which will come into force in November 2026, will require automakers to comply with emission standards over a wider range of operating conditions. Furthermore, cars must meet these requirements for 10 years or 200,000 km of mileage, which is double the current norms.
This forces engineers to seek new solutions to maintain the optimal air-fuel mixture ratio without reducing performance. As van Meel noted, traditional engine cooling methods using fuel are now unacceptable, so alternative technologies have to be developed.
Although cars for the American market do not need to comply with European standards, most manufacturers, especially European ones, still adapt their models to the strictest requirements. This has already led to the abandonment of manual transmissions in some models, as happened with the Volkswagen Golf R.
BMW’s decision to preserve powerful engines demonstrates the brand’s priority in ensuring high performance, even despite the complex challenges of environmental regulation. This could become a significant advantage for fans of true performance cars in the future.
