Electrified hybrid M cars could be inevitable says BMW

I'm guessing until the G chassis or next generation chassis is built out of CF like the i3/i8 then we aren't going to get a hybrid M, yet. But imagine that!?! A fully built CF M3 WOW

They were inevitable years ago. Time to catch up BMW. That said, I'm excited to see what they come up with.

Obvious and inevitable move. I don't have a problem with the drivetrain, just the weight.

M3 will almost certainly go the 4 cylinder path and the people will revolt for a time.

Cars will get faster and faster with a whole lot of band aids. But they won't make any progress on driving dynamics until they deal with the out of control weight.

SCOTT26 wrote

Inevitable. Which is why BMW are developing Power eDrive.

"It is your destiny."
- Darth Vader (David Prowse / James Earl Jones, "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back," 1980)

The first M Power eDrive model is not that far away...

All the other brands will do the same, it's the direction we're headed and I love it.

To those saying BMW lost a customer, what will you do? Walk? Public transportation?

I love the idea of eDrive in an M car. I would love to have an electric motor taking up the "slack" before the turbo kicks in on the current engines. This wouldn't require a large battery pack and would drastically change the driving experience of the current M models. Just saying...

Twixboy wrote

So in other words, today's Tesla P85D is the BMW M of the future? Get with the times BMW.

More like P-1, 918, LaFerrari

SCOTT26 wrote

The first M Power eDrive model is not that far away...

M4 CSL ?

SoCalDave wrote

In a stoplight drag, the Tesla P85D Ludicrous speed optioned car would smoke any M car. 0-60 in 2.8secs. Look it up.

How many times do people run into a p90d at a stop light with perfect conditions, and perfect launch/reaction time. This whole electric gimic is such a joke. In terms of overall effiency (resources used to CREATE and operate) electric and gas cars, electric cars arent always first. Theres still a lot of technology left in gasoline cars that WILL raise efficiency. Just look at Koenigsegg's camless engines. At 75 mph the teslas are making around 300hp. Thats why i pulled on a p90d in my fbo 335i on the freeway. Those cars are a joke, no one cares about 0-60 times in the real world. Just take a look at the tesla's dyno: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RESgO9zuTDk/maxresdefault.jpg

Not to mention they cant even complete a nuburgring lap time. Are they quick? yeah, below 70 mph. But they are in no way a performance car, let alone a "fast" car.

p1, 918, LaFerrari... all examples of hybrid sports cards. All these people talking before thinking...

BPe90M3 wrote

Cool. They lost one customer here.

+1 more

rob24ert wrote

Who wouldn't want electric motors to prime your turbo so there is 0 lag, like in F1

You mean a supercharger?

cc3 wrote

I don’t think it’s the best idea to get more and more power into these models. Our philosophy is to get the right balance between power and performance.”

It is a brilliant idea to add more and more power. Just add the damn power to the measly 320hp from the 340i...

SCOTT26 wrote  

Inevitable. Which is why BMW are developing Power eDrive.

It's only inevitable if consumers choose to purchase them. No sales = No bueno.

I'm not sure how this can be news to anyone. Everyone knows that Formula 1 / Supercar technologies trickle down to regular road cars. With the Hybrid technology trickling down from Formula 1 to cars like the P1, 918, and LaFerrari; seeing it reach our high performance cars within the next 5-10 years is only inevitable.

kevinlevrone wrote

It is a brilliant idea to add more and more power. Just add the damn power to the measly 320hp from the 340i...

340i will be more than capable once the factory detuning is "fixed"...

Well said!!! I, too, agree with this philosophy.

I'd hit it!

SCOTT26 Have BMW M considered electric-driven superchargers in series with turbochargers?

mhjeep wrote  

The irony of this story is that just a few years ago, BMW was adamant that the i8 and M were very different and distinct perspectives. Now it appears as though the i8 is basically the test bed for the next BMW high performance hybrids.

Meanwhile a barrel of oil is what- $30?

SCOTT26 wrote

The first M Power eDrive model is not that far away...

Likely the G90 (F90?) M5.

MacOSR wrote

I love the idea of eDrive in an M car. I would love to have an electric motor taking up the "slack" before the turbo kicks in on the current engines. This wouldn't require a large battery pack and would drastically change the driving experience of the current M models. Just saying...

You're describing a M-version of the ActiveHybrid3. I think we have a ways to go before the extra weight of the battery pack doesn't impact the overall weight of a traditionally powered car.