BMW continuing to develop combustion engines

BMW Group R&D boss Frank Weber has revealed work is already underway to develop a new generation of petrol and diesel engines, despite other car-makers abandoning combustion engines to focus on EVs.

Perhaps even more surprising, instead of focusing on tiny downsized three-cylinder engines, Weber confirmed to Germany's Auto Motor un Sport that the advanced new powertrains would include both six- and eight-cylinder engines.

Weber said there was still a need for combustion engines in BMW's line-up for at least a "few more years" and that refining them now would effectively reduce their CO2 emissions in the short term.

"That’s why we’re working on a new generation of engines: petrol, diesel, six-cylinder, eight-cylinder," he said.

"With the six-cylinder engine alone, we are reducing CO2 emissions more massively than has been the case with a generation change. In order to reconcile emissions requirements on the one hand and performance requirements on the other, we looked at the entire charge cycle and found a promising approach there."

Said to feature state-of-the-art technology, Weber hinted the new family of engines would incorporate "something completely new in the cylinder head" that would radically slash emissions.

Weber said within BMW the new engines were among the most effective ways to slash its CO2 footprint, alongside its electric powertrains.

BMW's approach is at odds with fellow German brand Audi, which has already declared that its last combustion-powered car would be introduced in 2026 and that by 2033 it would have phased them out in its global line-up.