Overview
- BMW M, which announced the “Ignite” system on Thursday, will start building updated M3 and M4 models in July 2026, with the M2 following in August.
- The system adds a small pre-chamber in the cylinder head with its own spark plug that shoots jets of flame through tiny openings to light the main charge at several points.
- Under high revs and heavy load, those fast ignition jets speed combustion, cut exhaust temperatures, and reduce knocking that can limit turbo engine performance.
- BMW says track driving will use less fuel for the same pace, and it confirms displacement and peak power stay the same despite a higher compression ratio and new variable-turbine turbos.
- The rollout helps the S58 inline-six comply with Europe’s Euro 7 standard due in November 2026, and it follows earlier pre-chamber use in racing and Maserati’s Nettuno V6.