BMW M Will Keep Straight-6, V8 Mills In Euro 7 Era

The European Union is set to implement stricter (tougher) Euro 7 emissions standards soon, but BMW M is confident it can navigate said new rules.

The European Union (EU) is set to implement its stricter – read: tougher – new Euro 7 emissions regulations soon. In fact, it will be applied to new vehicles starting form late 2026 and existing vehicles from late 2027.

Though the emissions levels allowed for cars are unchanged from the current Euro 6e standards, they will be tested over a broader (and harder) range of scenarios. The latter is said to better reflect real-world driving.

Furthermore, vehicles must remain compliant for 10 years or 124,000 miles (approx. 200,000 KM) - twice as long as currently. For the first time, brake and tyre emissions will also be monitored here.

Despite tougher new Euro 7 emissions, BMW M is set to keep both its signature straight-6 (top left & right) and V8 (above) mills.

Despite so, the folks over at BMW M aren’t too worried, and that’s despite how these new rules will affect performance cars and their powertrains in general. In fact, the division looks set to keep both its straight-6 and V8 engines under said rules.

“The challenge was not so much to make an engine that is EU7 compliant, but to keep performance,” said BMW M CEO Frank van Meel in a recent interview with Autocar UK during the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed weekend.

BMW M boss Van Meel explained the new goal was to keeping the lambda one sensor without cooling it using fuel - believed to be impossible under Euro 7.

The exec then explained the goal of driving by keeping the lambda one sensor – where the air-fuel combustion ratio is matched perfectly – without cooling it. Usually, in high-performance situations, fuel is used for cooling, but this is impossible under Euro 7.

“The combustion process has to be improved in regards to heat build-up and also the cooling, and those are the challenges. Of course you can [reduce] performance to avoid this temperature increase, but you don’t want to – that’s where we started,” he continued.

Van Meel didn’t elaborate further how the performance arm reworked its aforementioned signature straight-6 and V8 mills. Instead, he noted that the division made some “very interesting” tweaks that will be revealed later.

Critically, BMW M head Van Meel also confirmed the division will not downsize to 3-cyl and 4-cyl mills with added electrification to lower emissions.

“The six-cylinder in-line engine is our legacy, and the V8 has got a long history in racing, so we intend to keep going,” adds Van Meel further.

Critically, the exec also confirmed that BMW M will not consider downsizing to either 3-cyl or 4-cyl mills with added – and heightened – electrification to lower emissions. He also stressed such engines cannot the performance divison's “specific mindset” for performance.

“I couldn’t imagine putting a four-cylinder in an M5,” concluded Van Meel.