For the past few years, a dark cloud has been looming over car enthusiasts. Its name was Euro 7, a set of proposed emissions regulations so strict that it felt like a death sentence for the glorious, high-performance combustion engines we know and love. We all read the grim forecasts: V8s were dinosaurs, powerful six-cylinders were on life support, and the future was inevitably silent and electric. But in a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, that dark cloud has turned out to be mostly water vapor.
The final version of the Euro 7 regulations, which just got the green light, has been significantly watered-down. The original, earth-shattering rules that would have forced automakers to spend billions on new tech for diminishing returns have been scrapped. For passenger cars, the limits on exhaust emissions like nitrogen oxides (NOx) are, get this, pretty much the same as the current Euro 6 standards.
And you can almost hear the collective sigh of relief, followed by a roar of V8 thunder, coming from Munich.
For BMW’s M division, this isn’t just good news; it’s a lifeline that allows them to stick to their guns. Frank van Meel, the CEO of BMW M, had previously hinted that they had a plan to make their legendary V8 engine compliant, but it was always spoken with a tone of grim determination. Now, that determination can turn into triumphant celebration.
Think about what this means. The iconic twin-turbo V8, the heart and soul of monsters like the M5, M8, and XM, isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. BMW M can now continue to refine and develop this powerhouse without the crippling fear of it being outlawed. They’ve essentially been given a green light to keep building the engines that have defined their brand for a generation.
This isn’t about “defying” regulations anymore. The narrative has completely shifted. BMW M is now in a position to leverage this unexpected legislative gift. While the new rules do introduce stricter standards for things like brake dust and tyre particle emissions, and battery durability for hybrids, the core challenge to the combustion engine’s existence has faded.
So, what does this mean for us, the people who love to drive? It means the symphony of a multi-cylinder M engine is safe, at least until the mid-2030s. It means the upcoming models we’re all excited about, like the next-generation M5 (which will be a V8 hybrid), can be developed with the confidence that their heart will be a genuine M-powerplant.
BMW M was ready for a fight, prepared to spend a fortune to keep their soul alive. But it turns from a story of defiance into a story of opportunity. They can now focus those resources on what they do best: making their incredible engines even better, more efficient, and more powerful, all while staying within the rules.
The age of the great combustion engine isn’t over. For BMW M, thanks to this surprising turn of events, it just got a very exciting extension. The beast lives on.