The internal combustion engine remains a core foundation of BMW, especially its high-performance M division. As emissions regulations get tighter, however, the German brand is finding ways to eke out efficiency without sacrificing performance.

BMW has announced it will be rolling out its patented M Ignite technology this year. This primarily reduces fuel consumption under high rpms, and at the same time plays a major role in meeting the stricter Euro 7 emissions standards.

Essentially, what BMW did was its own version of a dual spark ignition system, just like Honda’s i-DSI and Alfa Romeo’s twin spark technology. It uses two spark plugs – one at the main combustion chamber, and the other on what BMW calls a pre-chamber that also has its own ignition coil.

The two spark plugs operate sequentially under low and medium RPMs, but under heavy loads and high RPMs, the pre-chamber ignition system takes over to ignite the mixture in the main combustion chamber. In this manner, combustion speed is significantly higher, and a more complete combustion is realized, countering the dreaded engine knock.

Along with the M Ignite technology, BMW is also increasing the compression ratio of its inline six-cylinder engines together with variable geometry turbos. While the displacement and power outputs of all the models with BMW M Ignite technology will be unchanged from those of the corresponding outgoing engines, the German brand claims a significant drop in fuel consumption when the cars are used on track days by BMW M customers.

Likewise, the BMW M Ignite technology helps in meeting the stricter Euro 7 standards that will take effect in November 2026, future-proofing the brand’s storied inline-six engine bloodline.