BMW is looking to the future with its Neue Klasse EV platform, but the company isn’t forgetting its internal combustion past. We recently spoke with BMW’s head of R&D, Dr. Joachim Post, and while our conversation focused largely on the Neue Klasse and what comes next, he did touch on internal combustion.
During our conversation, Post revealed something interesting: Last year was BMW’s best year in terms of V-8 sales. He said:
“We want to give the customer the best car, and they can decide what kind of powertrain they want.” They only get a new car if they choose an electric car, or an old car if they want a combustion engine. The world is different. Last year, we achieved the highest number of sales of electric (premium) vehicles and, at the same time, recorded high sales of V8 engines.
The BMW V-8 is especially popular here in the U.S. It is available as an option on the X5, X6, X7, 7 Series and 8 Series models, and is standard on the M5, M8, X5 M and
Photo by: BMW
While BMW is best known for its straight-six cars, the company built V-8-powered luxury cars in the 1950s and 1960s, and brought back the V-8 engine permanently in the early 1990s for the 5, 7, and 8 Series. It has proven to be a popular choice in larger vehicles, especially SUVs like the X5. BMW’s newest V-8, the 4.4-liter twin-turbo S68, debuts in 2022 and lives on in upscale Land Rover and Range Rover models.
In combination with a hybrid system, as in the M5, the BMW V-8 engine gives customers the power and character they want, while meeting increasingly stringent emissions regulations.
While many other automakers have planned to go fully electric, BMW has taken a more cautious approach. It has made great electric cars, but it hasn’t stopped investing in internal combustion engines. It’s clearly a bet that’s paying off, with strong ICE and EV sales.
