the new V8 power unit meets the ideal concept of the most demanding engine designers right from the start through its engine dimensions alone. And the other design criteria - all the way from the engine's dimensions and filling capacities through the number of components to the weight of the engine - likewise represent the very best achievable today.
Over and above these qualities, the new eight-cylinder offers all the typical M-tuned features of BMW's regular production cars such as double-VANOS, individual throttle butterflies, and high-performance engine electronics. At the same time the number of cylinders, the M high-speed engine concept, and the low weight of the engine clearly prove that the responsible engineers, in creating this power unit, were inspired and guided by the eight-cylinder featured in the BMW Sauber F1. For the new engine has many features in common with the latest power unit highlighted by BMW in Formula 1, with various technological concepts and principles, production processes and materials carried over from the Formula 1 engine to the drivetrain of the new BMW M.
In terms of specific output, the new V8 significantly exceeds the benchmark of 100 hp per litre acknowledged as a convincing sign of sporting power and performance. But even so, power is not everything. Rather, the dynamic driving experience provided by a car depends to a great extent on its acceleration and handling, resulting, not least, from the weight of the car and the actual thrust of the engine. The thrust or traction acting on the drive wheels, in turn, results from engine torque and the overall transmission ratio.
The M high-speed engine concept allows optimum transmission and final drive ratios further enhancing the impressive thrust and power of the engine. Indeed, BMW M's engineers have found a new dimension in developing the engine of the new BMW M with the eight-cylinder achieving maximum engine speed of 8,300 rpm.
The second factor crucial to thrust and performance on the road, engine torque, amounts to a mighty 400 Newton-metres or 295 lb-ft at 3, 900 rpm on the new V8 power unit. And about 85 per cent of the engine's maximum torque is available throughout the enormous engine speed range of 6,500 rpm, with 340 Newton-metres or 251 lb-ft available from just 2,000 rpm