After a seven-year absence, BMW will return to Le Mans in 2018

By Stephen Edelstein Published September 28, 2016

BMW likes to tout its motor sports pedigree, but since 2011 the German automaker has been absent from one of racing’s biggest stages: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But BMW is planning a comeback.

It will enter the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the race series that includes Le Mans, in 2018, and will race in the GTE class for production-based cars. That means BMW won’t compete for an overall Le Mans win, but it will rub fenders with the same cars it competes with in showrooms.

Recommended Videos

The GTE class includes the Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 911, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Ferrari 488, and Ford GT (which won the class at Le Mans this year). Using race cars based on road cars makes the class more relevant to fans than the top LMP1 prototype class. It also allows BMW to pick up where it left off, as the company’s last Le Mans appearance was with an M3 GT, which finished third. BMW also won Le Mans overall in 1999 with its V12 LMR prototype.

Read more: Porsche 919 Hybrid Le Mans car cruises London streets

Exactly which car BMW will enter in the WEC is unclear. It currently uses a racing version of the M6 in certain U.S. and European series, but by the time 2018 rolls around it may decide to switch to a different model. BMW may also partner with a full-time race team, just as it does in the U.S.-based WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, rather than run the cars entirely by itself.

Separately, BMW also announced a tie-in with the Andretti Formula E team. The arrangement will last two seasons, and will include “cooperation on an engineering level and the mutual use of resources,” in the electric-car racing series, according to a Formula E press release. BMW may enter its own factory team in the 2018-19 season, depending on how things go. It already supplies pace cars and support vehicles to Formula E.

In addition to BMW, Audi, DS, Jaguar, Mahindra, Renault, and Venturi are all involved in Formula E on some level, as are startups Faraday Future and NextEV. Manufacturers are expected to get more involved in the coming seasons as organizers loosen restrictions on car design.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Waymo lays groundwork for robotaxi revolution

A Waymo car production line.

In recent years, Waymo has been edging toward its long-held goal of revolutionizing urban transportation by deploying a fully autonomous, scalable, and sustainable ride-hailing service.

The Alphabet-owned company has just taken another step in that direction with the opening of a new vehicle factory in Metro Phoenix, Arizona, in partnership with automaker Magna.

Cars

Ram resurrects 1500 Express trim as an affordable option

ram 1500 express return affordable 2026

Ram is revving up excitement with the return of an old favorite—the 2026 Ram 1500 Express. Reintroduced as a more affordable option in the full-size truck lineup, the Express trim brings back a combination of rugged style, respectable performance, and most importantly, a price tag that won’t send buyers running for the hills.

Starting at $41,105 for the base Quad Cab configuration (and just under $45,000 for the Crew Cab), the new Express offers a budget-friendly alternative in a market where full-size trucks can easily cross the $60,000 mark.

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.