Europe’s BMW M5 V8 Is Being Detuned. America’s Is Not.

Stricter EU Regs Incoming

A stricter set of emissions regulations will take effect in Europe in 2027. It's the reason why more and more electrified vehicles are being offered there, along with the discontinuation of certain engine choices. At the same time, some manufacturers are starting to adjust their large-capacity engines in order to comply.

It's the reason why Honda axed the Civic Type R over in Europe, and why the (somewhat) reasonably-priced Toyota GR Yaris costs so much in France. It's even been reported that Mercedes-Benz will be dropping certain AMG models due to the new rules. As for BMW, they're adjusting by cutting power to its twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that powers certain M Cars.

America is Spared

Starting next month, the engine that powers the M5, M5 Touring, and XM will have its respective outputs reduced by around 40 hp. To compensate for that, BMW is tweaking the electric motors to make up the difference. So, for our European readers, the M5 and M5 Touring will still make 717 hp, and the XM retains its 738 hp rating, provided there's enough juice in the batteries.

But the good news is, the American versions won't lose horsepower from the engine. That's according to BMWBlog, which recently reached out to company spokesperson Jay Hanson regarding the matter. Yes, power and torque are still the same, but there's less dependence on the electric powertrain. That also means that there will be less of a power loss when the batteries don't have much charge left.

BMW's Limited European Engine Range

If you check out BMW's engine lineup for the European market, you'll notice that a lot of the familiar options in America are largely absent there. For example, the 30 xDrive option isn't available in the X3, leaving only the 20 xDrive and M50 as the gas options. Mind you, there are still diesels available there.

The differences between the U.S and EU cars are more prominent in the 5 Series. The sole pure gas-powered ICE model sold there is the 520i, and there's no 530i or 540i present. For those who want a punchier 5 Series in Europe, they'll have to go either plug-in hybrid or diesel. You'll also notice missing engine choices in the 7 Series.

Again, that's mainly due to more stringent emissions regulations in EU-market models. Another factor is high fuel prices there, which means there's little incentive to install a high-output engine unless it's in something like an M or M Performance vehicle. America, consider yourselves lucky.

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