Photo: BMW
As you're well aware, BMW's go-faster division is currently pivoting to hybrid vehicles. It all started with the plug-in hybrid XM, whereas the X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition are mild hybrids. The M5 sedan is going plug-in hybrid as well in 2024, together with the M5 Touring.
Prior to revealing the G87, big kahuna Frank van Meel confirmed that the M2 is M's final purely internal combustion vehicle. It's also the final M vehicle to feature a manual transmission, with production expected to cease in July 2029.
Speaking to Australia's Drive, the man in charge of BMW M let it slip that his team is weighing up the powertrain options for the next M3 and M4. The TL;DR version is that BMW M considers all-electric propulsion and internal combustion.
Whether the M3 and M4 remain internal combustion or go fully electric, we don't know. Frank van Meel told the Australian publication that BMW M engineers are looking into purely internal combustion, plug-in hybrid, and electric solutions, but "we would like to offer just one."
The M3 and M4 will need to exceed the output figures of the current generations, which bear the G80/G81 and G82/G83 codenames. All four body styles are powered by the S58 twin-turbo I6, a B58-derived lump that's good for up to 553 horsepower (560 ps) in the limited-run 3.0 CSL. As for torque, make that 479 pound-feet (650 Nm) for the Competition tune, M3 CS, and M4 CSL.
That's a lot for 3.0 liters of displacement. With the G50/G51 3 Series expected to feature a development of the CLAR platform, the most likely outcome would be a plug-in hybrid I6 with all-wheel drive. With the G90/G99 M5 confirmed to feature the S68, a plug-in hybrid take on the S58 does make sense.
BMW M could also surprise us by moving the M3 and M4 to the Neue Klasse platform, which is due to launch in 2025 with a 3 Series-like sedan and an X3-like utility vehicle. On the other hand, this would spell the end for the i4 M50, which is – believe it or not – M's best-selling vehicle today.
Based on a derivative of the CLAR platform, the 4 Series Gran Coupe-twinned i4 belts out 536 horsepower (544 ps) and 586 pound-feet (795 Nm) in M50 flavor. We also have to remember that BMW M is also testing a quad-motor drivetrain in an i4 M50-based liftback sedan, which makes the switch to electric just as plausible as the plug-in hybrid twin-turbo I6 setup mentioned earlier.
In related news, hearsay suggests the G80 will end production in June 2027. The G81 M3 Touring will follow in October 2027. Drive understands the next-gen M3 will drop in 2027, most likely for the 2028 model year. As for the M4 Coupe and M4 Convertible, the G82 and G83 will be allegedly retired in June 2028.
Speaking to Australia's Drive, the man in charge of BMW M let it slip that his team is weighing up the powertrain options for the next M3 and M4. The TL;DR version is that BMW M considers all-electric propulsion and internal combustion.
Whether the M3 and M4 remain internal combustion or go fully electric, we don't know. Frank van Meel told the Australian publication that BMW M engineers are looking into purely internal combustion, plug-in hybrid, and electric solutions, but "we would like to offer just one."
The M3 and M4 will need to exceed the output figures of the current generations, which bear the G80/G81 and G82/G83 codenames. All four body styles are powered by the S58 twin-turbo I6, a B58-derived lump that's good for up to 553 horsepower (560 ps) in the limited-run 3.0 CSL. As for torque, make that 479 pound-feet (650 Nm) for the Competition tune, M3 CS, and M4 CSL.
That's a lot for 3.0 liters of displacement. With the G50/G51 3 Series expected to feature a development of the CLAR platform, the most likely outcome would be a plug-in hybrid I6 with all-wheel drive. With the G90/G99 M5 confirmed to feature the S68, a plug-in hybrid take on the S58 does make sense.
BMW M could also surprise us by moving the M3 and M4 to the Neue Klasse platform, which is due to launch in 2025 with a 3 Series-like sedan and an X3-like utility vehicle. On the other hand, this would spell the end for the i4 M50, which is – believe it or not – M's best-selling vehicle today.
Based on a derivative of the CLAR platform, the 4 Series Gran Coupe-twinned i4 belts out 536 horsepower (544 ps) and 586 pound-feet (795 Nm) in M50 flavor. We also have to remember that BMW M is also testing a quad-motor drivetrain in an i4 M50-based liftback sedan, which makes the switch to electric just as plausible as the plug-in hybrid twin-turbo I6 setup mentioned earlier.
In related news, hearsay suggests the G80 will end production in June 2027. The G81 M3 Touring will follow in October 2027. Drive understands the next-gen M3 will drop in 2027, most likely for the 2028 model year. As for the M4 Coupe and M4 Convertible, the G82 and G83 will be allegedly retired in June 2028.
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