Today

Less horsepower for BMW V8 as Euro 7 bites

BMW M5 bears the brunt of enforced changes as emissions rules become stricter for 2027

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Just as the furore around the latest BMW M5 appeared to die down, here it is in the headlines once more. And it ain’t good news, folks. From March this year, ahead of the introduction of Euro 7 regulations in 2027, the latest PHEV M car will feature ‘optimised drive technology’. Which sounds intriguing - could it be increased EV range? Faster charging speed? More power? 

It’s none of those things, because Euro 7 makes combustion even trickier to sell than ever. So for the M5s made from the spring, the V8 part of the powertrain will be less powerful than before, with 544hp against the previous 585hp. Improved efficiency ought to result, thanks to the introduction of the Miller combustion process plus changes to the exhaust and electronics, but a power drop so soon after launch isn’t a brilliant optic for an M car. The headline 727hp figure remains, thanks to optimised software for the electric drive; it’s just that the engine now contributes a little less. 

Ultimately (hopefully) its impact on the M5 driving experience will be minimal, though it goes to show just how drastic Euro 7 regs are that even a company with the engineering might of BMW must resort to reduced ICE power in a plug-in hybrid to comply. Similar measures are also being employed for the XM Label, which shares the powertrain, effective from April 2026 production. BMW says the change ‘applies to all EU countries as well as countries outside the EU that follow EU directives on emissions compliance.’ So it’s us too, folks.

Of course, for all the aggro that’s probably going to be directed BMW’s way, the changes do still mean a new M saloon and Touring with a V8 engine will be available for the foreseeable future. AMG doesn’t offer one at the moment, while Audi has been quiet on an RS6 replacement. An M5 with a 544hp V8 rather than a 585hp one is better than no V8 at all. The press release said: ‘By taking this action, BMW M ensures that its customers have consistent access to state-of-the-art high-performance vehicles that meet future environmental requirements with innovative technology, even under volatile regulatory conditions. Without compromising on the characteristic BMW M performance.’ No mention has yet been made of any price alteration for the latest car, the M5 currently retailing at £114,095 (or £2k more for the wagon). But, if only 585hp will do, early cars are now from £25k less than that…

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[nismo48]

So does this mean less is going to cost more ?

[Tubbycharged]

I wonder whether we will see a similar impact on the 4.0 V8 AMG M177, which powers various Mercedes-AMG's and Aston's etc. If not, what is different?

Also wondering if the exhaust changes mentioned in the article will mean any impact on the sound.

[Night Owl]

The EU needs to dissolve in order to stop Agenda 2030.

[richinlondon]

side profile is fine, back is okay, lovely colour....but ooh that face - bloody hell!

[Dave Hedgehog]

nismo48 said:

So does this mean less is going to cost more ?

its going to cost more to make, and a lot more to maintain

[cerb4.5lee]

It still has a V8 at least, so I'll just accept that this is still making the best of a bad job in these difficult times for car enthusiasts I think. Plus there are plenty of electric cars out there for folk that aren't interested in cars and engines anyway to be fair. So everyone is still happy just about really I reckon.

[pSyCoSiS]

Weird to think the previous generation M5 had 600+ bhp from it's twin turbo V8, and these 'only' muster 585 (to be 544).

I know it is over 700 bhp with electric assistance, but still seems like a backwards step for the ICE part?

[pSyCoSiS]

richinlondon said:

side profile is fine, back is okay, lovely colour....but ooh that face - bloody hell!

The front end has really grown on me over the past few months, and I think they do look good in the flesh. Very colour-dependent, though.

Not a pretty car by any stretch, but it is aggressive and menacing, which I think suits the M5.

[andy43]

Tubbycharged said:

Also wondering if the exhaust changes mentioned in the article will mean any impact on the sound.

Place your bets...

[Robigus]

cerb4.5lee said:

So everyone is still happy just about really I reckon.

I admire your optimism.

[CrippsCorner]

richinlondon said:

side profile is fine, back is okay, lovely colour....but ooh that face - bloody hell!

Tastes are funny aren't they. Scrolling through the pictures, my first thought was actually the front I could live with, not great by any stretch of the imagination, but okay. The side, meh. However, the rear

[simundo777]

Must be time for a facelift version....fingers crossed

[JJJ.]

The headline figure remains the same, that's probably what counts even if it's only used once in blue moon.

[plfrench]

It was only a few weeks ago when we were told by PH that the future of ICE was saved and the whole stupid EV transition would go away… if that’s the case, things aren’t off to a great start are they? If this is the result of what BMW have to do to a flagship performance model to get it through early stage Euro 7 requirements. M5s are smaller volume sellers, so by definition, their impact on fleet averages will be pretty minor - what chance is their for the higher volume models being combustion?

[Dave Hedgehog]

plfrench said:

It was only a few weeks ago when we were told by PH that the future of ICE was saved and the whole stupid EV transition would go away if that s the case, things aren t off to a great start are they? If this is the result of what BMW have to do to a flagship performance model to get it through early stage Euro 7 requirements. M5s are smaller volume sellers, so by definition, their impact on fleet averages will be pretty minor - what chance is their for the higher volume models being combustion?

a none issue for me, i would rather take my NA V8 M5 with no DPF filters, no exhaust noise strangulation and no ADAS to a man and give him 60k to make it as new than buy one of these and lose 60k in depreciation

[samoht]

plfrench said:

It was only a few weeks ago when we were told by PH that the future of ICE was saved and the whole stupid EV transition would go away if that s the case, things aren t off to a great start are they? If this is the result of what BMW have to do to a flagship performance model to get it through early stage Euro 7 requirements. M5s are smaller volume sellers, so by definition, their impact on fleet averages will be pretty minor - what chance is their for the higher volume models being combustion?

Euro 7 is a minimum standard every production car must meet (+) , relating to the absence of poisonous gases and particles in the exhaust, it's not to do with fleet averages.

CO2 is regulated on an averages basis, sell enough EVs and you can make a Revuelto.


(+) barring low-volume exceptions

[dukebox9reg]

samoht said:

plfrench said:

It was only a few weeks ago when we were told by PH that the future of ICE was saved and the whole stupid EV transition would go away if that s the case, things aren t off to a great start are they? If this is the result of what BMW have to do to a flagship performance model to get it through early stage Euro 7 requirements. M5s are smaller volume sellers, so by definition, their impact on fleet averages will be pretty minor - what chance is their for the higher volume models being combustion?

Euro 7 is a minimum standard every production car must meet (+) , relating to the absence of poisonous gases and particles in the exhaust, it's not to do with fleet averages.

CO2 is regulated on an averages basis, sell enough EVs and you can make a Revuelto.


(+) barring low-volume exceptions

The Eu7 regs have been softened quite a lot since first proposal

[dukebox9reg]

CrippsCorner said:

richinlondon said:

side profile is fine, back is okay, lovely colour....but ooh that face - bloody hell!

Tastes are funny aren't they. Scrolling through the pictures, my first thought was actually the front I could live with, not great by any stretch of the imagination, but okay. The side, meh. However, the rear

I think the 5 series has lost its identity, quick glance, you cant tell the difference between a 1 series and 5 series from the front

[Wills2]

My experience of modern BMW hybrids is that battery charge disappears quickly, so with that reduction in power you're left with a very heavy car with a pwr to weight ratio of an M5 from almost 3 decades ago, I'd just get a Taycan myself.

[theicemario]

The blue paintwork is lovely. Looks so much nicer than the matte black ones I’ve seen.