06:04 02-02-2026

BMW confirms full power for S68 V8 engine in US market

BMW has officially confirmed that it will not reduce the power of its twin-turbo V8 S68 engine for the North American market. The 4.4-liter engine, used in the BMW M5 and XM Label, will retain its full output in the U.S. despite stricter environmental regulations in Europe.

In the European Union, the situation is different. Starting in the coming months, the gasoline component of the powertrain will lose 40 horsepower to comply with the upcoming Euro 7 standard, which takes effect in 2027. BMW will compensate for this power loss with a more powerful electric motor, keeping the total output of the hybrid system at 717 horsepower for the M5 and 737 horsepower for the XM Label. However, the fact that the V8 is being "detuned" has sparked controversy among brand enthusiasts.

A BMW representative confirmed in an official statement that the balance between the internal combustion engine and the electric component will remain unchanged for the U.S. This means American versions of the M5 and XM will continue to use the "unrestricted" S68 without any power reduction. In Europe, BMW is going beyond a simple power cut.

Engineers are implementing the Miller cycle, refining the exhaust cleaning system, and recalibrating the control electronics. Formally, this should improve environmental performance and fuel consumption, but fans of classic M models are already worried about losing the "authentic" character.

Meanwhile, the S68 remains a key engine for future models of the brand. It will be used in the new X5 M, X6 M, X7, as well as future ALPINA versions, including a potential successor to the B7 and XB7.

Even in the era of electrification, BMW clearly isn't ready to say goodbye to the V8—at least where it's still legally permitted. The decision to preserve the V8's full power for the U.S. clearly shows that the future of "true" engines is now determined not by engineers but by regulators: where possible, BMW delivers maximum performance; where not, it saves the numbers with an electric motor.