For BMW enthusiasts, the ideal M car has always been rear-wheel drive with an inline six-cylinder engine. Recently, BMW M’s head reaffirmed this philosophy, stating in an interview that despite the industry's shift toward energy efficiency and carbon reduction, BMW will not downsize to a four-cylinder engine in its M performance cars. Simply put, it wouldn’t meet the expectations of a true performance vehicle.
Frank van Meel, head of BMW M, made it clear that BMW has no plans to follow AMG’s path of downsizing the M3’s engine. Instead, BMW will continue to use a six-cylinder engine in the next-generation M3, unlike the latest AMG C63, which switched to a four-cylinder hybrid setup. Van Meel emphasized that a four-cylinder engine cannot deliver the sustained power and track performance of BMW’s 3.0-liter inline-six, making it an unacceptable compromise for driving purists.
“We are transitioning to electrification, but we will retain the inline-six engine—at least for the next generation,” he stated. “While downsizing is an option, what truly matters is sustained track performance. A four-cylinder engine simply cannot match the power output of our current six-cylinder under demanding conditions.”
Audi Sport shares a similar stance, refusing to use four-cylinder engines in its RS lineup. The next RS5 is expected to feature a V6, while the RS6 will likely retain its V8. However, Audi has confirmed that hybrid technology will play a key role in meeting increasingly strict emissions regulations, with both models expected to feature plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Meanwhile, the AMG C63 has struggled in the market since switching to a 2.0-liter four-cylinder plug-in hybrid. Although official sales figures from Affalterbach have not been released, multiple reports suggest that demand for the C63 has significantly declined. Even with incentives in Germany and the U.S., the model has failed to meet Mercedes’ sales expectations.
Both BMW and Audi Sport remain committed to high performance, refusing to compromise on engine displacement and driving pleasure. While AMG has taken a different approach, BMW M and Audi Sport continue to prioritize track performance and the pure driving experience, reinforcing their dedication to internal combustion engines.
Image credit: Netcarshow
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