Next BMW M4 Powertrain: S58 Inline-Six vs Four-Motor EV – Rumors & Facts

Next BMW M4 Powertrain: S58 Inline-Six vs Four-Motor EV – Rumors & Facts

Rumors of the BMW 4 Series demise were greatly exaggerated. While Audi retires its A5 Coupe and Mercedes-Benz folds its coupes into the CLE, BMW is doing the opposite. It’s doubling down.

In a major vote of confidence, BMW has officially confirmed that not only will the third-generation 4 Series arrive but it will be joined by a new high-performance M4, continuing the legacy of one of Bavaria’s most iconic performance lines and yes gas power isn’t dead yet.

Despite shifting industry tides toward EVs and SUVs, the two-door coupe remains core to BMW’s identity.

According to Joachim Post, Head of R&D at BMW:

The 4 Series is an important car for us. It’s sportier and BMW is a sporty brand with a clear performance heritage.

That’s not just branding speak. It’s strategy.

Unlike rivals who are consolidating or abandoning coupes, BMW sees value in keeping the 4 Series as a sleek, design-led counterpart to the more conservative 3 Series sedan.

Even better?

Developing both together creates engineering synergy reducing costs while expanding appeal.

As Post explained:

Whenever we do a 3 Series or X3, we also think about the 4 Series or X4. That way, we can create synergies and build derivatives more easily.

Translation:

Why reinvent the wheel when you can evolve it?

This philosophy ensures the survival of not just the 4 Series Coupe and Convertible, but also the X4 and X6 SUV coupes all built on shared platforms and powertrains.

The next-gen 4 Series will ride on BMW’s advanced Neue Klasse architecture the same electric-first platform underpinning the upcoming electric 3 Series (i3) and future EVs.

Next BMW M4 Powertrain: S58 Inline-Six vs Four-Motor EV – Rumors & Facts

But don’t assume this means goodbye to combustion. Far from it.

Thanks to modular engineering, Neue Klasse supports:

• Fully electric variants (like the next i4)
• High-efficiency internal combustion engines
• Plug-in hybrids

Rumors suggest the electric i4 could feature:

• A 108.0-kWh battery pack
• Over 497 miles (800 km) of WLTP range

Meanwhile, gas-powered models will carry over highly tuned versions of BMW’s beloved S58 inline-six, already proven in the current M3 and M4.

The big news for enthusiasts?

Yes the next M4 is coming.

And based on BMW’s plan for the next M3, it will likely follow a dual-path approach:

1. Brutally fast electric M4 four-motor AWD, torque vectoring, track-focused dynamics
2. Final evolution of the S58-powered M4 upgraded twin-turbo inline-six, rear-wheel-drive bias, manual option possible

This mirrors what BMW has already signaled for the M3 and gives fans the best of both worlds.

One honors tradition. The other defines the future. Both scream M Division.

Post emphasized that BMW’s next-gen gas engines are already engineered to meet strict Euro 7 emissions standards giving them staying power even as regulations tighten across Europe. That’s a key advantage over some rivals now scrambling to comply.

Next BMW M4 Powertrain: S58 Inline-Six vs Four-Motor EV – Rumors & Facts

Since splitting from the 3 Series in 2013, the 4 Series has carved out its own identity bolder, lower, and more aggressive.

The third generation will continue that trend, serving as:

• The sportiest interpretation of Neue Klasse design
• A halo for driving emotion in an increasingly digital lineup
• The foundation for future M cars

Just as Post noted:

These derivatives are very often the basis for the sports cars.

In other words:

No 4 Series? No M4.

And no M4 means a break in the bloodline of BMW’s greatest performance icons.

That’s not a risk BMW is willing to take.

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