BMW considers using smaller engines in ‘M’ lineup

Efficiency implies compromise, and compromise is an antonym for luxury.

If we're going to shrink the number of cylinders then why stop at 4? Why not go down to three, two, or even one cylinder engines? The next thing you know is an M3 with a Wankel engine... That actually may be a good idea :)

I have to nix the Wankel idea based on rubbish fuel economy. Aside from that, they do make a great engine and my first car was a 1981 RX-7.

"Amazing how desperate the Germans are now that Lexus has conquered global luxury markets. Now they're going to try to increase sales using smaller engines in performance cars. How pitiful. 4-cylinders have no place in a luxury car."

This site needs emoticons bad. If so I'd use one to show rolling on the floor laughing out loud, cause this here was hilarious. You should take that act on the road.

With all the past and recent smackdowns BMW has laid on lexus, it's clear which company is feeling desperate right now. BMW laying out plans to keep their cars agile and make them more fuel efficient has nothing to do with lexus, since it's clear lexus is the one that has a LOT of catching up to do.

Seriously, get a clue. Lexus is chasing Mercedes and BMW. What is the IS series in response to? The 3. When they "F" up to GS, what will that be in response to? The 5. C'mon. As it is, the 335i and 550i will probably outperform or come close to the "F" cars; the Motorsport BMWs will far outclass the Lexuses. The Lexus brand is a nice, reliable car for people who want luxury but don't want to think about it. They're cars for passengers. The Bimmers are for drivers.

"Dude, 4-cylinders are unrefined and slow. Luxury is about power and refinement. Look at Lexus. No 4-cylinders and all their engines are best in class when it comes to refinement."


do you mind trying to tell us how? and because lexus doesn't offer 4-cylinders, they're having trouble in these markets. you need a background check.

Michael ... for the " supposed world class engines " that Lexus has, how many Engine of the Year awards have they won in the past 10 years? 1. BMW has won 19. enough said

MY GOD! Would someone please call the people at Cool-Aid and ask them to please stop selling the stuff to the Toyota/Lexus people? I mean, really- after all those people committed mass suicide a la Cool-aid, you'd ahave thought they'd be more careful about who they let get their hands on the stuff.

Really, you must have your own set of mathematical principles that defy logic. How is 400,000 units for Lexus globally greater than (>) 1.2 million, 1.1 million, and 960,000 for BMW, MB, and Audi respectively?

The IS220d is a 4 cylinder!

I would had thought they would had made the 3.2l inline-6 with twin turbo.

or a smaller v8 with twin turbo.

A smaller V8 than what? The M3's 4.0L is much smaller than Lexus's 5.0L and AMG's massive (but awesome) 6.2.

Back in the day. Car companies sold 2.5L v8.

If you ask me, the M-Series cars should have big engines. If, for whatever reason, you don't want the big engine, get the regular version instead of the M version of that car. Plain and simple.

Roger that. Time to bring the Isetta back to kick some SmartForTwo ass :)

BMW is a company that can make that work.

What BMW is trying to do is feasible. Do you remember the Quad4 used in the Aerotech? more than 1000HP and 2.0 liters 4 cylinders. Now what they can try is find out how AMG create a monster of 6.2 liters 8 cylinders that is 3 kg lighter than the M3 engine with 4.0 with less power and torque, and then apply that tecnology to a 4 or 6 cylinders, (Mercedes should do the same with their 4 and 6 cylinders), then apply twin turbos and we should have an M3 with 400HP plus, but a lot lighter, which is the main success of the BMW cars on tracks.

Also 4 cylinders does not means that is cheap car. Do you remenber the Lotus Sprit?. I do not care about refinament if the car does a good work on tracks and BMW can do it. If MB try to do something like that, then they will losse a lot of customers that knows that MB are to heavy to use small power engines. As soon as they abandone Big engines I will be one of the first to start looking at other direction, may be Audi.

All I can say is the next M3 better weigh significantly less than 3600 lbs AND I would prefer it to have an inline six.

They made a limited edition E90 320si M model in the UK for either 2006 or 2007. It had some sort of awesome forced injection 4 cylinder.

They tested it on Fifth Gear and I'm sure you could find it if you go on Youtube. It was an awesome car.

The 320i is the weak engine in BMW's line-up - the 320d is more powerful, more economical, quicker and has lower emissions.