The 760i, M760e and M760e are leading the charge.
In February 2021, we had our first encounter with the BMW 7 Series G70 prototype equipped with a quad exhaust. Since then, we have been wondering if we will ever get an M7. The full-size luxury sedan was able to display the intimidating setup when it was revealed earlier this week. However, it wasn’t on an M-model. The M760e xDrive was equipped with four tips. This is not surprising considering the M760i with its powerful V12 had four exhaust finishers. We were surprised to see official photos of the 760i sporting a similar arrangement. The quad exhaust is not an M Performance model. The M760i has the tip separated from the M760e, while the 760i has the tip connected. There are subtle differences in these designs.
Although it is not known if other BMWs will use the arrangement, Domagoj Dukec, the company’s chief design officer, stated to BMWBLOG all future M Performance vehicles will get the same setup. The M35i is the next to receive the powerful exhaust. This was confirmed by Dukec. The M Lite models will have this design to distinguish them from the M Performance cars, while the M35i-spy-photos models will have a different look.
The M340i could also be updated to the new layout, as the 3 Series is about to undergo a mid-cycle facelift. It will be interesting to see if Europe’s M340d with its powerful diesel engine, will adopt the same layout. The number of exhaust tips will be doubled in subsequent facelifts and next-gen M Performance cars.
The XM is the next standalone M car, and it’s also the first M car since the M1. The stacked tips will look like a trapezoid and it will stand out from all M and M Performance cars. The next HTML5 is also a plug-in hybrid engine V8. It has the classic quad round tips rather than the bold new XM exhaust. The super sedan’s fate will be decided by time.
BMW’s strategy has an expiration date, of course. Bavarians, through their M division, have pledged to keep the V8 and inline-six engines until 2030. However, they may not survive beyond 2035. It is highly unlikely that the company will keep its large-displacement engines in markets outside of the European Union, if the European Commission’s proposal to ban new ICE car sales is voted for. Non-EU governments don’t like ICEs, so their days may be numbered.