Photo: BMW
BMW’s M range will feature hybrid cars in the future, and they will be quick.
Hybrid versions of models like the M3, M4, and M5 are “inevitable,” says the division’s vice-president for engineering, Dirk Hacker. Instead of using the future hybrid variants of those models to achieve a balance between performance and fuel economy, BMW’s M division will follow the road paved by supercars and get the most performance possible out of the hybrid systems.
Future hybrid M cars will be faster than their current equivalents, will have improved throttle response, and promise to be “even more involving.” While all the electronic aids on modern M cars make them safe to drive in challenging weather and when you are not entirely in the “racing mood,” things change when you go to M mode and go for a spirited drive. We can only imagine what “even more involving” could mean in this situation to the future, faster BMW M cars.
According to Mr. Dirk Hacker, BMW M customers are not interested in zero-emission mobility or EV range, but they wonder if hybrid technology would make their cars quicker. So, as long as there’s a market for hybrid M cars, BMW is going for it.
Most likely, the hybrid technology will bring improved fuel consumption and emission figures for the brand’s lineup, but the drivetrain will be optimized for maximum performance. Great news for performance enthusiasts who are fans of the Bavarian performance brand.
However, BMW M isn’t jumping the gun on the 100% electric vehicle trend. According to Auto Express, the British publication that interviewed Mr. Hacker, future BMW M cars won’t go full-electric until the technology advances to such a degree where the weight of the batteries won’t affect the vehicle’s dynamic abilities.
Since current and upcoming models would need a special structure and expensive materials to achieve a decent weight after installing an entirely electric drivetrain, the performance division of BMW is still waiting before it decides to launch its first electric cars.
Meanwhile, BMW’s i Division has a fully electric model, the i3, that is also available with a range extender. So customers interested in a BMW with electric drive can purchase a car that does that, only it is not available in a performance version.
Future hybrid M cars will be faster than their current equivalents, will have improved throttle response, and promise to be “even more involving.” While all the electronic aids on modern M cars make them safe to drive in challenging weather and when you are not entirely in the “racing mood,” things change when you go to M mode and go for a spirited drive. We can only imagine what “even more involving” could mean in this situation to the future, faster BMW M cars.
According to Mr. Dirk Hacker, BMW M customers are not interested in zero-emission mobility or EV range, but they wonder if hybrid technology would make their cars quicker. So, as long as there’s a market for hybrid M cars, BMW is going for it.
Most likely, the hybrid technology will bring improved fuel consumption and emission figures for the brand’s lineup, but the drivetrain will be optimized for maximum performance. Great news for performance enthusiasts who are fans of the Bavarian performance brand.
However, BMW M isn’t jumping the gun on the 100% electric vehicle trend. According to Auto Express, the British publication that interviewed Mr. Hacker, future BMW M cars won’t go full-electric until the technology advances to such a degree where the weight of the batteries won’t affect the vehicle’s dynamic abilities.
Since current and upcoming models would need a special structure and expensive materials to achieve a decent weight after installing an entirely electric drivetrain, the performance division of BMW is still waiting before it decides to launch its first electric cars.
Meanwhile, BMW’s i Division has a fully electric model, the i3, that is also available with a range extender. So customers interested in a BMW with electric drive can purchase a car that does that, only it is not available in a performance version.
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