BMW Confirms Future for Combustion Engines, Including V-12, Alongside EV Push
Despite a major investment in electric vehicles, BMW remains committed to internal combustion engines, with plans to continue offering models powered by four-, six-, eight-, and even 12-cylinder engines.
BMW is actively preparing for a future dominated by electric vehicles with its upcoming Neue Klasse platform, but the German automaker isn’t abandoning its legacy powertrains. A senior company official revealed that BMW has already taken steps to ensure its larger engines meet increasingly stringent emissions standards, including its iconic V-12 engine currently used in Rolls-Royce vehicles.
The automaker’s chief technology officer recently stated that the upcoming Euro 7 emission standard, set to take effect later this year, will not pose a significant challenge to its larger internal combustion engines. According to the executive, BMW’s future engines, regardless of displacement, were designed to easily meet the more demanding limits.
“We can fulfil Euro 7 with some optimization in the exhaust system—with things like the catalysts—so that’s why we have a big advantage in that Euro 7 is not that high an investment for us,” the official explained in an interview.
This commitment to combustion engines comes as BMW prepares to launch its Neue Klasse EVs. The first model, the iX3 SUV, is anticipated to arrive in showrooms early in 2025, followed by the i3 sedan before the end of 2026, and an electric M3 variant sometime in 2027. However, the next-generation 3 Series will not be exclusively electric, with the company intending to offer multiple powertrain options across its future lineup.
While the future of the V-12 within the BMW brand itself remains uncertain – the M760i Final Edition, released in 2022, was the last BMW to feature the engine – it continues to be offered in Rolls-Royce models like the Cullinan, Ghost, and Phantom, powered by a 6.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-12.
There is speculation that the engine could find a new home within BMW’s recently acquired Alpina sub-brand. BMW took full ownership of its longtime tuning partner on January 1, 2024, and plans to leverage the Alpina name for ultra-luxury vehicles and SUVs focused on “maximum performance.” As one industry outlet pointed out, a V-12 engine would be a fitting choice to deliver on that promise.
The continued development of combustion engines alongside EVs demonstrates BMW’s strategy of offering customers a range of choices as the automotive industry transitions to a more sustainable future.
