BMW Says U.S. Appetite For V8 Engines Is ‘Above Average’

BMW secured the V8’s future years in the past when it introduced plans to tweak the “S68” to satisfy Euro 7 rules. The dual-turbo, 4.4-liter unit might get pleasure from a fair longer lifespan in the USA, the place emissions requirements are much less stringent than within the EU. Within the meantime, People proceed to point out 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 parts in Munich will proceed past the beforehand introduced closing date.

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

America’s robust urge for food for V8s will likely 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 will even proceed to supply V8 energy of their high variations. It might make sense for the “Rugged” SUV, reportedly due in 2029, to characteristic the S68 engine as properly.

On the similar time, BMW ALPINA sub-brand will supply V8 engines for the 7 Sequence LCI and the second-generation X7. The stately sedan might 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 gentle, 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 sedan, whereas the full-fat M3 is predicted to make use of a mild-hybrid S58. Each high-performance 3 Sequence variants are more likely to be provided completely with all-wheel drive and an automated transmission, mirroring the bigger M Efficiency and full M fashions.

BMW’s dedication to its largest engines, together with Rolls-Royce’s V12, comes at a time when EVs have reached a file share of whole deliveries. In 2025, EVs accounted for 18% of gross sales. Add plug-in hybrids into the combo, and electrified automobiles reached 26% of total 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 News Europe