[The Automotive Enthusiast]

The CEO of BMW's M division, Frank Van Meel, has stated earlier that the future of the division will include electrified cars. As BMW plans to have electric or hybrid cars form 40 percent of its production output by 2025, M cars will be part of that. And now, Van Meel says that by the end of the next decade, all BMW M models will have electrified tech in them.

According to CarAdvice, Van Meel spoke with Australian journalists in Spain, telling them the timeline for hybrid M tech will be there step by step, stressing that timing is crucial for BMW M to deliver a successful product. Van Meel doesn't want an electrified M car to be half-baked, heavy or unsatisfying due to a rush to market before the technology has been perfected.

"Look at today's electrification components," he said. "They are quite heavy and, for us as a motorsports company, overall vehicle weight and power-to-weight ratio is key."

Van Meel also says an M car should drive like one. The M division has used every engine configuration from four cylinders to straight sixes, from V8 to V10, in search for the best-suited powerplant for the cars in question. Hybrid and electric tech is fair game for M cars, too, as long as it is there for performance's sake without hampering the feel. Or as Van Meel put it: "The basic target is not so much the components of the technology itself. It's more the philosophy."

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/07/20/...usauto00000016

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Hopefully I'll be dead by then

[Thescout13]

I tend to agree that if they keep the philosophy the components (at least up to hybrid) shouldn't really matter. I mean are we really saying the the 918, or the Enzo, or the P1 are lesser because they have hybrid technology? I don't think so. I think when that level of performance technology trickles its way down to an M3, it will be a very nice and fun car, and help the pocket re gas mileage (not that much people who buy these cars care about that, but at least eco-friendly-ish?).

[stormlv]

Originally Posted by pheerIx

Hopefully I'll be dead by then

I don't get it ... if the M division were to get something like a 918 or a Regera, would you not be ok with it?

[Poiseuille]

Originally Posted by pheerIx

Hopefully I'll be dead by then

But then you would miss the (no doubt) upcoming Mi3!

[shortseller]

By 2030 electric will be the norm, so why wouldn’t BMW be there too?

[seis-speed]

Then they should allow low-weight cars to be built.

I do not want nav, dual zone, power seats, camera, lane assist, adaptive suspension, etc...

That could be a lot of weight savings for those that agree with the weight ratio principle. Let people option some weight out of the car.

[georgere]

Originally Posted by pheerIx

Hopefully I'll be dead by then

I would not want to be dead actually. I drove i8 and was impressed. Mission e will be a hit. E-cars will be as good albeit with their own flavor.
Live, my friend - you will like it.

[AhsanU]

Originally Posted by seis-speed

Then they should allow low-weight cars to be built.

I do not want nav, dual zone, power seats, camera, lane assist, adaptive suspension, etc...

That could be a lot of weight savings for those that agree with the weight ratio principle. Let people option some weight out of the car.

You may not want it, but just like the dying manual transmission in the world of M cars - the market dictates what BMW invests into. Sure, they could option the AC, nav, etc. (except for the cameras, you have to have them by law in the USA now) but that means more R&D money into doing so; do the ends justify the means? No. Hardly anyone will strip out their luxury performance sedan from the everyday comforts in pursuit of lightweight, so why would BMW invest millions of dollars into R&D for it? Hell, the 991.1 GT3RS had literally only a handful of people that opted for the AC delete worldwide, and that's a track focused car. I severely doubt many would do the same on an M car with bad resale value as is.

All that being said, I welcome hybrids in the M division. Full EV's aren't my thing in terms of having fun, but when I think of hybrids I don't just think of the Prius - I think of the 918, P1, LaFerrari, etc. If BMW can figure out a way to keep weight down from batteries (which will eventually happen as battery technology improves) while maintaining the fun nature of the car, I've no doubt M fans will be happy.

[mkoesel]

It’s important to keep in mind that the hybrid category includes mild hybrids.

Mercedes’ new M256 inline six is a fantastic example of what can be accomplished with a 48V mild hybrid setup. And, as it happens, AMG head Tobias Moers has already hinted that the next AMG C class family will use a six cylinder engine.

The G20 is known to be getting 48V, and the S58 may very well also. I don’t think BMW will offer the ISG and beltless design like Mercedes yet, but that may come next iteration of their engines.

[10"]

*stares at my 1M*

You'll never be electric, friend.

Will drive this to the ground til there is 0 oil left on this forsaken planet!!!!!!!

[The Wind Breezes]

Well, thank God. Anyone who thinks this is a bad idea hasn't experienced the torque fill of a performance hybrid. Full electric performance cars will suck til batteries are way more energy dense but a hybrid with a small pack is the best ever. See La Ferrari, Koenigsegg Regera, Porsche 918, and probably some others. Those are some really kickass street cars.

[///M Power-Belgium]

224 HP. Not bad for a Mini !

[stbm5]

seeing as a hybrid just won Le Mans with a 12 lap gap, i think theres some performance advantages there.

[10"]

Originally Posted by stbm5

seeing as a hybrid just won Le Mans with a 12 lap gap, i think theres some performance advantages there.

Yeah because everyone races on Le Mans every day right? lol :P

[brad850csi]

BMW 4wd cars are about 80kg heavier than the equivalent rwd car. The below system would be about 120kg heavier based on the part weights and significantly more powerful than a normal 4wd system with a normal engine.

I'd like to see a system with a front electric motor similar to the one at the front of the BMW i8 mounted in front of the engine. That wouldn't really work with an i6 as they are quite long engines so you'd need to stick with an i4 or v8 so you don't end up with a gigantically long car.

That would give you enough power at the front to get from 0-100 quickly with a powerful petrol motor sending power to the rear.

[Darth One]

new plan is to liquidate nest egg and invest it in a secret garage full of real M cars before they are gone forever

[NickyC]

Meh, it's the evolution of the automobile so not much we can do about it. If it burns you up too bad you could always drive older cars, I still see plenty of cars rolling around that are older than me which look fantastic. Until they outright ban ICE engines you'll always have options.

I just wish they could make an electric car with a manual transmission?

[Cyanfall]

Hybrid or ev will be so good that it wont make sense not to use it by 2030

[Darth One]

My secret garage will have the e39 M5, e46 m3, 1m, m coupe clown shoe, plus some Porsche GT's and my faithful Mini GP. Plus some others that I haven't decided yet.

I guess i could daily ride one of those overgrown Roombas but ima need the above cars to actually DRIVE

[mk1-fan]

I don't have a problem with hybrid performance cars, in fact I encourage it.

If you look at cars like the P1, 918, La Ferrari and others, it is clear that it is the way forward. Someone mentioned Le Mans, which is the ultimate development arena for road going cars. You cannot compete there with just engine alone.

EV cars, however, is the devil itself. You NEED engine sound to make a car feel exciting. I don't care how quick they are, I will not buy one.

Also, reading that Merc will go from a V8 to a 6 cyl for their AMG cars, is really sad. No other car manufacturer make a better sounding V8 than them.

[Nikolas]

Originally Posted by mk1-fan

I don't have a problem with hybrid performance cars, in fact I encourage it.

If you look at cars like the P1, 918, La Ferrari and others, it is clear that it is the way forward. Someone mentioned Le Mans, which is the ultimate development arena for road going cars. You cannot compete there with just engine alone.

EV cars, however, is the devil itself. You NEED engine sound to make a car feel exciting. I don't care how quick they are, I will not buy one.

Also, reading that Merc will go from a V8 to a 6 cyl for their AMG cars, is really sad. No other car manufacturer make a better sounding V8 than them.

And we're back to cards in the spokes!