Don't Worry, There's No Four-Cylinder BMW M Models Coming… For Now

BMW‘s M isn’t ruling out a possible hybrid four-cylinder powertrain for the future.

Head of BMW M, Frank Van Meel, told Australian media the sub-brand plans on sticking with six-cylinder powerplants even though its rivals are turning to four-cylinder mills. According to Van Meel, a four-cylinder engine doesn’t have the characteristics he would like to see in an M car, even if it’s turbocharged. “I wouldn’t do a four-cylinder standalone turbocharged with high performance, because you always have the characteristic that if you want high performance you lose the low-end torque and you lose the overall driveability you want to have from the car,” he said.

But the company isn’t entirely ruling out the idea of a four-cylinder powertrain eventually heading into the engine bay of BMW M models. The boss admitted electrification with a four-cylinder engine is a possibility, but it won’t be anytime soon.

SEE ALSO: BMW isn’t Building a Hypercar Anytime Soon

While electric motors could help boost low-end torque, using a hybrid powertrain means adding weight to the car, which is not something BMW M models like to do. The performance sub-brand is working with BMW’s i sub-brand on looking at next-generation battery cells and seeing when it would be the right time to go towards electrification. The good news for die-hard BMW M enthusiasts? That time is not now.

“So, with nowadays technology, we don’t see that [working], but I can’t tell you what the next steps with the BMW Group will be,” Van Meel added.

[Source: CarAdvice]