[M4GTS]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Just for comparison sake, Audi is getting 450hp and a 8500RPM redline with the RS4/RS5 4.2L direct injection engine. Doing quick math, a 4.4L direct injection S65B44 development could do 470hp. Not far fetched at all.

Further, the heavy and AWD RS5 is EPA rated at 16/23, which is better than the 14/20 for the E9X M3. Better fuel economy than the E9X could have been achieved with a DI S65B44 development. Also not that far fetched.

This engine would have been more expensive than the S55 and would have not met BMW's emissions target for the car (S55 is EPA rated at 17/26). The engineers did not build it because they were told not to (through the targets they were imposed).

IMO, as I posted previously, BMW gave us the S55 to meet two corporate objectives: cost and emissions. Not because it is a better performance engine.

That being said, the world is changing and I have no choice to accept it. I am looking forward to driving my M4 in 8 weeks and see how much of a compromise (if at all) the S55 really is .

Great post!