It has been almost three years since rumors about a new BMW engine started to surface. It was said to be a new V-8, that we now believe is called the S68 and will carry on the legacy of the twin-turbo, hot-V layout. This engine, which could end up being the very last of its kind due to extreme efforts toward electrification, will first launch in the production version of the BMW XM, but has also been expected to trickle down to other models. A new report from Bimmerpost Forums claim it could even land in the X5 M and X6 M

BMW’s New S68 V-8 Engine

When BMW introduces the facelifted X5 and X6 M models, they are expected to switch over from the current S63 engine to the new S68 V-8. This update is also expected to bring the end of the base M models, with M Competition models being the only offerings for the next few years. The rumor even says that the updated X5 M and X6 M may not even match the same 617-horsepower output of the current models, but that does seem a little hard to believe.

There’s something more about the S68, though. It’s paired with mild-hybrid technology that won’t only help cut fuel consumption a bit, but will offer a brief electric boost on demand when battery power is available. This also means that the updated models could be slightly heavier than the outgoing models due to the added equipment. It’s also possible that cargo capacity could be affected to a point due to the extra hardware as well. The X5 M and X6 M LCI will hit the production line in April 2023 with the X5 running until July 2026 and the X6 M running until March 2027.

This S68 engine, however, is also capable of supporting plug-in hybrid technology. And, since it’s essentially replacing the S63, it’ll also land in the next-gen M5 with that plug-in technology. It’ll also land in the XM and it’s even rumored that the BMW 7 Series lineup, potentially in the first-ever BMW M7. The BMW X7 is also a prime candidate for this engine, but it’ll land in the production XM first, which should launch later this year as a 2023 model. We’re not sure what kind of power this engine will offer in the M5, X5 M, or X6 M, but in the XM, it’s said to deliver 750 horsepower, so it’s certainly more than capable. Expect the plug-in version of this powertrain to offer around 100-150 ponies more than the mild-hybrid version.