BMW to abandon high-revving engines in M cars
11-27-2008, 06:25 PM
#1
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 21,274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Mini Cooper
About time too.
Tough emissions standards worldwide and soaring manufacturing costs in Germany are behind BMW's decision to switch from high-revving, naturally aspirated engines in its M high-performance vehicles to turbocharged direct-injection powerplants, beginning as early as next year.
The move, which could alter the character of BMW M models, places question marks over the immediate future of the M3's 4.0-liter V8 and the M5's 5.0-liter V10. Both engines will make way for forced-induction engines in coming years, according to high-ranking BMW sources.
The first M vehicle to make the move to the new turbo powerplants is the X6 xDrive M, which will challenge the Porsche Cayenne GTS and the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG.
Set to appear next June, the X6 xDrive M will be the first model to run BMW M's new twin-turbocharged V8. This engine is also earmarked for the next-generation M5, due out in late 2010.
Based on the standard X6 xDrive 5.0i's 4.4-liter 90-degree V8, the new twin-turbo unit is said to match the current M5's naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10 for power at 500 hp, while providing as much as 516 lb-ft of torque.
This should be enough to provide the M-powered X6 with 0-to-60 mph acceleration of less than 5 seconds and top speed limited to 155 mph.
"In terms of overall performance, the new engine doesn't give anything away to the powerplant we run now, but it delivers much better consumption and lower emissions," a senior BMW M official told AutoWeek.
The move comes as Mercedes-Benz's AMG performance unit is planning to turbocharge its 6.2-liter V8 when it introduces direct injection in 2010.
Besides developing new turbocharged engines, BMW's M division is also planning to equip new models with features such as automatic stop/start and brake regeneration in a bid to cut fuel consumption and emissions.
BMW is also testing a new driveline incorporating technology from next year's X6 ActiveHybrid, with a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack used to power an electric motor to boost performance levels.
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20081126/FREE/811269993
Tough emissions standards worldwide and soaring manufacturing costs in Germany are behind BMW's decision to switch from high-revving, naturally aspirated engines in its M high-performance vehicles to turbocharged direct-injection powerplants, beginning as early as next year.
The move, which could alter the character of BMW M models, places question marks over the immediate future of the M3's 4.0-liter V8 and the M5's 5.0-liter V10. Both engines will make way for forced-induction engines in coming years, according to high-ranking BMW sources.
The first M vehicle to make the move to the new turbo powerplants is the X6 xDrive M, which will challenge the Porsche Cayenne GTS and the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG.
Set to appear next June, the X6 xDrive M will be the first model to run BMW M's new twin-turbocharged V8. This engine is also earmarked for the next-generation M5, due out in late 2010.
Based on the standard X6 xDrive 5.0i's 4.4-liter 90-degree V8, the new twin-turbo unit is said to match the current M5's naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10 for power at 500 hp, while providing as much as 516 lb-ft of torque.
This should be enough to provide the M-powered X6 with 0-to-60 mph acceleration of less than 5 seconds and top speed limited to 155 mph.
"In terms of overall performance, the new engine doesn't give anything away to the powerplant we run now, but it delivers much better consumption and lower emissions," a senior BMW M official told AutoWeek.
The move comes as Mercedes-Benz's AMG performance unit is planning to turbocharge its 6.2-liter V8 when it introduces direct injection in 2010.
Besides developing new turbocharged engines, BMW's M division is also planning to equip new models with features such as automatic stop/start and brake regeneration in a bid to cut fuel consumption and emissions.
BMW is also testing a new driveline incorporating technology from next year's X6 ActiveHybrid, with a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack used to power an electric motor to boost performance levels.
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20081126/FREE/811269993
11-27-2008, 07:35 PM
#4
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 21,274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Mini Cooper
Originally Posted by brabusw209amg' post='733239' date='Nov 28 2008, 12:31 PM
lower fuel consumption, more torque, does it sound too good to be true???
11-27-2008, 08:40 PM
#5
Senior Members
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 863
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can't high-rev a TT engine? Having a NA car and competing with competitors was pretty cool, but MB has been using superchargers and turbos for a while now, as has Audi. Why did the RS6 cripple the M5 this time around? Drop the two cylinders, drop in two turbos and with some magic from the BMW engineers, the car will outperform the previous V10 version with a more efficient engine at the same time. BMW wins another award for a well-designed engine like it did with the N54, and we're all happy.
11-27-2008, 10:04 PM
#7
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: So Cal, USA
Posts: 14,776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 545iSMGSilver GrayAuburn Dakota LeatherLogic 7 Premium SoundSports Package
So Mercedes went from supercharged to N/A and going to go back to S/C... LOL.
It seems Force induction is the way to go aside from hydrogen. Wait... what does it take to make hydrogen?
Electric - Burns too much coal to produce the electricity.
Hybrid - Produces too much waste to create the batteries.
It seems Force induction is the way to go aside from hydrogen. Wait... what does it take to make hydrogen?
Electric - Burns too much coal to produce the electricity.
Hybrid - Produces too much waste to create the batteries.
11-27-2008, 11:53 PM
#8
Contributors
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 4,508
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: See sig :)
The ///M tradition has been always NA engines... why not keep them NA, but not high revving bs... Look at the 6.2L AMG engines, NA, and push what wack loud of power... I guess Benz will always have the better engines... esp. them bi-turbo v12s... mmmm
11-28-2008, 01:07 AM
#9
Members
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 550i Sport (6-speed)
Originally Posted by tbal' post='733383' date='Nov 28 2008, 04:53 AM
The ///M tradition has been always NA engines... why not keep them NA, but not high revving bs... Look at the 6.2L AMG engines, NA, and push what wack loud of power... I guess Benz will always have the better engines... esp. them bi-turbo v12s... mmmm
While BMW kept their displacement constant, engineers at BMW were able to up horsepower while Mercedes basically went with larger displacement to produce more power.... yes? I've always thought that BMW engineers did actual engineering work to produce horsepower while other manufacturers simply upped the displacement / introduced forced induction in their motors to up horsepower and torque.
Personally upping displacement and introducing a supercharger or turbo just doesn't seem like much engineering to me as keeping the engine naturally aspirated yet upping horsepower / torque and still maintaining a decent mpg.
