Through extensive technical modifications, we have succeeded in maintaining the engine’s performance at its familiar high standard and even improving it in certain driving situations.
Alexander, as Head of Development at BMW M, how would you explain the new M Ignite to a layman in a single sentence?
With M Ignite, we are transferring combustion engine technology from motorsport to our high-performance road vehicles. With M Ignite in the S58, we are offering our customers a purist combustion engine without hybridisation that meets our high standards for an M powertrain whilst also complying with future regulatory requirements such as Euro 7 in Europe or C7 for the Chinese market.
Does the typical, extremely powerful S58 character remain noticeable with M Ignite, or does the engine’s character change?
The fundamental engine characteristics of the S58 remain unchanged. Through extensive technical modifications, we have succeeded in maintaining the engine’s performance at its familiar high standard and even improving it in certain driving situations, while complying with all legal requirements. The response is now significantly more progressive thanks to the newly integrated exhaust gas turbocharger with variable turbine geometry.
How does M Ignite alter the engine sound, and in which driving situations is this most noticeable?
Feedback on the acoustics of the S58 with M Ignite has been very clear so far: particularly at higher revs and under heavy load, we achieve a more throaty and even more emotive sound. It is precisely in these performance-oriented driving situations that the sporty character of the engine is audibly enhanced.
In the lower rev and load ranges, however, the sound differs hardly at all from the familiar S58. This means the engine retains its familiar characteristics in everyday use, while a clear acoustic improvement is noticeable during dynamic driving.
Particularly at higher revs and under heavy load, we achieve a more throaty and even more emotive sound.
How does M Ignite differ from a conventional ignition system?
On the order of milliseconds, M Ignite employs a fundamentally different ignition concept to that of a conventional ignition system. Whereas a single flame front originates from the spark plug in a conventional system, with M Ignite the fuel-air mixture is ignited almost simultaneously at several points in the combustion chamber via ignition jets from the pre-chamber.
This virtually synchronous multi-point ignition significantly accelerates combustion and leads to a decisive difference in the result: combustion processes become more stable and efficient, the tendency to knock and exhaust gas temperatures drop noticeably, whilst combustion efficiency increases. Despite a consistently stoichiometric air-fuel ratio (Lambda 1), power and torque figures can be fully maintained – with significant advantages in terms of robustness and thermal control.
What measurable effects does M Ignite have on responsiveness, torque delivery and efficiency – where does the driver notice the new technology most?
The maximum power and torque figures remain unchanged with M Ignite. The key difference, however, becomes apparent in real-world driving – particularly when driving dynamically. The driver benefits from a noticeable reduction in fuel consumption, particularly in the higher rev and load ranges.
Despite significantly stricter legal emissions requirements, including in Europe and China, we have succeeded in achieving a responsiveness that is in no way inferior to that of the previous S58. This has been achieved without additional hybridisation and enables the seamless integration of the powertrain into the existing product portfolio. For the driver, this means: full performance, direct response to accelerator inputs and, at the same time, improved efficiency precisely where sporty driving is practised.
What changes were required in the engine compartment, and what was the most difficult part of the process?
The biggest challenge with M Ignite lay not so much in individual components, but in the seamless integration of the necessary changes into an already highly mature and robust overall system.
The aim was to fully retain the existing range of functions and high reliability – despite the far-reaching technical developments.
On the hardware side, the further development of the S58 comprises the following measures in particular:
- A completely redesigned main ignition system, including a specially developed pre-chamber
- Integration of a second ignition system
- Integration of new turbochargers with variable turbine geometry (VTG)
- Optimisation of the charge exchange via a modified intake camshaft
It was crucial to balance the multitude of changes in such a way that performance, emissions and robustness are equally impressive.
With this development step, the S58 is technically very well equipped to meet upcoming legal requirements as well as future performance demands.
Special thanks go to our colleagues at the engine plant in Steyr. Despite high-capacity utilisation in series production, all necessary adjustments to the base engine and peripherals were carried out there with great flexibility and the highest level of expertise, thereby enabling the successful industrialisation of the S58 with M Ignite.
We are proud to now be able to offer our customers this innovative engine technology.
Is M Ignite a one-off solution for the S58, or a system that could also feature in other BMW M engines in the future?
In an increasingly dynamic market environment with ever-growing regulatory requirements, this concept is, in principle, scalable with a view to the future. For us, however, the current objective is what matters most: with the S58, we are now bringing a production-ready high-performance engine to the road that combines technological innovation with uncompromising driving pleasure. This is exactly what BMW M stands for – and we are proud to now be able to offer our customers this innovative engine technology.
If you had to describe M Ignite in three words – what would they be?
Performance, emotion and efficiency!
Thank you for speaking to us Alexander.
