Tag Archives: BMW

News

No CarPlay Ultra for BMW: Native iDrive X Takes Priority

Apple’s long-anticipated CarPlay Ultra has officially arrived, marking a major evolution in the tech giant’s approach to in-car interfaces. Offering full-screen integration across all vehicle displays—from the instrument cluster to the head-up display and even passenger-side screens—CarPlay Ultra is the most immersive version of Apple’s in-car system to date. But while some automakers are racing to adopt it, BMW is not among them.

A spokesperson from BMW AG confirmed this week that “BMW currently has no plans to integrate Apple CarPlay Ultra”, reaffirming the company’s stance dating back to 2022, when Apple first unveiled the next-generation software. At that time, BMW was initially mentioned as a future partner, but the Munich-based marque has since backed away from that path.

CarPlay Ultra goes far beyond the traditional CarPlay experience, which is typically limited to the central infotainment screen. The upgraded system turns the entire digital cockpit into an Apple-driven environment—allowing drivers to control climate, media, and navigation entirely through Apple’s interface. Features like Siri voice commands, Apple Maps displayed directly in the speedometer, and customizable widgets are just the beginning. Aston Martin is leading the rollout, with Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis expected to follow closely.

So why the hesitation from BMW?

Rather than ceding control to Apple, BMW is doubling down on its proprietary operating system: iDrive X. This next-gen platform will debut in the upcoming BMW iX3 and serve as the digital backbone for all future Neue Klasse models. A key feature of iDrive X is the Panoramic Display, a cutting-edge projection system that stretches across the base of the windshield—designed to deliver key information in a minimalist, distraction-free way.

BMW’s strategy seems rooted in a desire for tighter brand integration and a more cohesive digital experience. While CarPlay Ultra offers a unified Apple-centric environment, BMW is prioritizing a native ecosystem that blends seamlessly with its design language and in-house tech innovations. As a result, support for third-party platforms like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will remain—but in a limited capacity, restricted to the central infotainment screen.

For BMW loyalists, this may be a disappointment, especially as competing brands embrace deeper Apple integration. But for BMW, the choice reflects a broader industry trend: the battle for digital control inside the car is just getting started—and automakers are no longer willing to hand over the keys so easily.

Source: BMW; Photo: Apple

News

BMW M Confirms Straight-Six and V8 Engines Will Survive Euro 7 – With No Performance Loss

As emissions regulations continue to tighten across Europe, fears have grown over the future of traditional performance powertrains. But according to BMW M’s top executive, fans of the brand’s iconic straight-six and V8 engines can breathe easy — at least for now.

Speaking at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel reaffirmed the brand’s commitment to its hallmark powerplants, confirming that both the straight-six and V8 engines will remain in the lineup despite the tougher Euro 7 emissions standards coming into force.

Crucially, Van Meel emphasized that performance will not be sacrificed to meet compliance.

“The challenge was not so much to make an engine that is EU7 compliant,” Van Meel told Autocar, “but to keep performance.”

The upcoming Euro 7 regulations, which build on the current Euro 6e framework, don’t lower the permissible emissions limits per se. However, they do introduce a much broader range of real-world testing conditions — including cold starts, dynamic driving, and higher load scenarios. Furthermore, engines must now remain compliant for up to 10 years or 200,000 kilometers (124,000 miles), double the duration previously mandated.

Perhaps most notably, Euro 7 will mark the first time that non-exhaust emissions — namely brake and tyre particulates — are also monitored.

Van Meel acknowledged the engineering challenges involved, especially around thermal management. Traditional methods of using extra fuel for cooling during high-performance operation — known as enrichment — are no longer viable under the stricter rules, which require combustion to occur at “lambda one,” the ideal air-fuel ratio.

“Normally, if you are in high-performance situations, you cool using the fuel,” Van Meel explained. “With EU7, that’s impossible, so you need to find different ways of avoiding temperature build-up.”

BMW M engineers have therefore focused on refining the combustion process and optimizing cooling efficiency, though Van Meel stopped short of revealing exactly how these results have been achieved. “Very interesting” changes have been made to both engines, with technical details expected to follow closer to production.

What is clear, however, is that downsizing is not on the table.

Asked whether BMW M would consider three- or four-cylinder engines augmented by hybrid systems to meet future regulations, Van Meel responded with a firm “No.”

“The six-cylinder in-line engine is our legacy, and the V8 has got a long history in racing, so we intend to keep going,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine putting a four-cylinder in an M5.”

According to Van Meel, such engines do not align with BMW M’s philosophy — particularly when it comes to torque characteristics, powerband behavior, and overall vehicle weight.

For now, this is welcome news for purists. In an age of increasing electrification and regulatory constraints, BMW M is drawing a line in the sand: performance without compromise, tradition without dilution.

Source: BMW

News

Petersen Museum Celebrates 50 Years of BMW 3 Series Motorsport Legacy

BMW of North America, in collaboration with the Petersen Automotive Museum, has unveiled a thrilling tribute to one of the most iconic model lines in motorsport history—“The Ultimate Racing Machine: 50 Years of the BMW 3 Series in Motorsports.” The exhibit, housed in the newly reimagined James H. Frank Family Vault’s Phil Hill Legends Room, is a celebration of performance, engineering, and endurance, showcasing BMW’s motorsport DNA across seven generations of 3 Series excellence.

“For 50 years, the 3 Series has embodied the spirit of competition and innovation that drives the automotive world forward,” said Terry L. Karges, Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. “This exhibit offers visitors a rare look at how BMW’s motorsport DNA has evolved—both on the track and on the street.”

Thomas Plucinsky, Head of BMW Group Classic USA, echoed this sentiment. “The original BMW 3 Series and now the BMW 3 Series with its ‘fraternal twin,’ the 4 Series, are the core of the BMW brand. ‘The Ultimate Racing Machine’ exhibit brings together seven of the most successful and important race cars—one from each generation.”

A Journey Through Seven Generations of Motorsport Engineering

The exhibit showcases a comprehensive look into the evolution of BMW’s 3 Series in motorsport, beginning with the first-generation E21 320i Group 5 car—a featherweight racing weapon with an M12/7 engine derived from Formula 2—and ending with the cutting-edge 2023 G82 M4 GT4, which represents the future of customer racing programs. Each generation in between is represented by a historic race car that helped shape BMW’s legacy on circuits around the world.

E30 M3: The Birth of a Legend

Of particular interest to motorsport purists is the 1990 E30 M3 DTM, a homologation masterpiece that laid the foundation for BMW’s touring car dominance. Driven by Steve Soper for Team Bigazzi, the E30 brought home multiple wins and finished 9th overall in the fiercely competitive 1992 DTM season.

E46 M3 GTR: America’s V8-Powered Outlaw

One of the crown jewels of the exhibit is the 2001 BMW M3 GTR—both in race trim and the exceedingly rare Straßenversion (street version). The race car, built to dominate the American Le Mans Series, famously won the 2001 Petit Le Mans with its patriotic “Stars and Stripes” livery. Powered by a 444 hp P60 V8 engine, the M3 GTR is revered as one of BMW Motorsport’s most radical and successful creations.

E92 M3 GT: ALMS Domination

The 2011 BMW M3 GT further solidified BMW’s stateside prowess. Developed with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, the car swept the American Le Mans Series Driver, Team, Manufacturer, and Michelin GreenX Challenge titles in 2011, showing that performance and sustainability can indeed go hand in hand.

F82 M4 DTM Class 1: The Final Chapter of a Formula

The 2020 BMW M4 DTM Class 1, with its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, carbon fiber chassis, and Formula 1-style technologies like DRS and push-to-pass, closed an era of DTM racing before the series transitioned to GT3 specs. This race car, driven by Timo Glock, represents the zenith of BMW’s DTM engineering.

G82 M4 GT4: Track Tech for Tomorrow’s Champions

The newest entry in the exhibit, the 2023 BMW M4 GT4, showcases the latest in customer racing technology. With up to 550 hp, advanced electronics, and a robust racing pedigree, this model is a testament to BMW’s ongoing commitment to grassroots and pro-level racing alike.

Not Just Race Cars—Road Legends Too

Adding depth to the motorsport focus, the exhibit also features three street-going 3 Series cars that highlight how racing technology trickled down to everyday driving. Among them: a pristinely preserved 1983 BMW 320i, a rare 1995 M3 Lightweight (LTW) built for showroom-stock racing, and one of only three surviving M3 GTR Straßenversion examples—a road-legal V8-powered marvel cloaked in motorsport mystique.

BMW in America: A 50-Year Journey

The exhibit also coincides with the 50th anniversary of BMW of North America, a company that has grown from a small importer into a pillar of the U.S. automotive landscape. With its Spartanburg, South Carolina plant now serving as BMW’s largest production facility worldwide, and a presence in 12 states, BMW’s footprint in North America reflects its global ambitions and motorsport heritage alike.

For any motorsport enthusiast or BMW devotee, “The Ultimate Racing Machine” is a rare chance to witness how one nameplate redefined racing across decades—and continues to push the envelope today.

Source: BMW North America