BMW Chief Considering M Cars with Smaller, Turbocharged Engines
BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer hinted recently that major changes could be in store for the automaker’s engine lineup. In yet another example of the shift away from larger displacement powerplants, Reithofer has said that he would like to phase out diesel V-8 engines “across the board,
Comments
The Stig
Sounds good to me. The original M3 was FUN. As the M cars have gotten bigger and HEAVIER I've been less enchanted with each succeeding model after the 2nd gen M3. Not that the current M cars are performance slouches by any stretch - but smaller and lighter seems more in line with the original spirit of BMW's performance cars. The heavier cars seem to be losing their racey 'feel' IMO.
Jeb
I think it's a great idea too. You can't even look at the M6 and think anything but "that thing is a porker." Now if we can get them to back away from iDrive and all of the configuration management stuff that M drivers now are faced with. Smaller, lighter, and SIMPLER.
dante
People say we're living in the Golden Age now. With all this talk of lighter weight, I think it's about to come.
chris
I think everyone is heading in this direction, but these things tend to run in cycles. Also there will be an even steeper price to pay for all the engineering for new drivetrain technologies.
mena
also there will be an even steeper price to pay for all the engineering for new drivetrain technologies.
Yep. Everyone thinks that lightening up todays cars while keeping the same safety standards and luxury will make the cars cheaper. WRONG!!!! It will make cars more expensive. Us car nuts would like the cars to be simpler but the people that actually buy these things want the extra luxury items and they won't give them up.
Remember BMW buyers expect these cars to be at the forefront of technology and luxury. So they will expect BMW (and etc) to lower the weight WHILE keeping the same or greater levels of luxury and performance. The 1 series was a concession to car people that don't have a 3 series budget or don't like the 3 series weight. I'm afraid that's as cheap as you will see BMW get.
Don't get used to the 128i being under $30k either. With the new CAFE standards coming down the pipe these cars become more exclusive (re: expensive). Expect a $10k increase in pricing before all is said and done.
Russ Bellinis
Why do they continue to use an inline 6 instead of going to a v6? I realize the inline 6 is by nature smoother than a v6, but the v6 is so much more compact and lighter than the inline format that I would think they would go with a turbo v6 for the performance models to get weight off the front end as well as to make a more compact engine compartment. Typically, an inline six weighs more than a v8 of similar displacement. As long as they insist on running an inline 6, I won't be convinced that they really want to reduce weight!
Mena
You answered your own question. Besides, the engine is only a portion of the weight of a car. There's more weight to be shed from the body itself.
Peter
_but the v6 is so much more compact and lighter than the inline format_
Wrong!
A V6 is not lighter because you need two cylinder heads. The 330i engine is the lightest 6 cylinder engine in the world.
_Typically, an inline six weighs more than a v8 of similar displacement._
Wrong again!
A inline 6 is lighter than a V8 if both use aluminium blocks. You compare a full alloy V8 with a inline 6 with iron block.
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