High compression ratio / turbo gas engines definitively do. Try pushing a BMW M3 ( competition for the model 3 perf ) on 87 and you’ll see how long the engine lasts.
"Due to the large variation in fuel quality, a large number of engines now contain mechanisms to detect knocking and adjust timing or boost pressure accordingly in order to offer improved performance on high octane fuels while reducing the risk of engine damage caused by knock while running on low octane fuels.
"
"...while reducing the risk of engine damage caused by knock while running on low octane fuels."
That doesn't necessarily mean it reduces the risk of engine damage to zero. The engine still has to knock for the sensors to detect it and adjust unless it uses flex fuel sensors. Yes modern engines CAN cope with lower octane fuel than they were designed to use, but you would lose performance and run an increased risk of damage. If the manufacturer states a minimum octane rating you would likely be voiding some parts of your engine warranty by running the incorrect fuel.
Just about every modern car comes with knock sensors and computer controlled knock prevention mechanisms that will compensate for lower octane, especially on high strung, direct injected, twin-turbo cars like a BMW M3. The only real downside is increased emissions for using non-optimal fuel and lower engine efficiency/power.
The M3 has knock sensors, like everyone else.
https://www.google.com/search?q=bmw+m3+knock+sensor
If you look up engine knock on wikipedia, it will tell you the same
From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_knocking#Knock_detectio...
"Due to the large variation in fuel quality, a large number of engines now contain mechanisms to detect knocking and adjust timing or boost pressure accordingly in order to offer improved performance on high octane fuels while reducing the risk of engine damage caused by knock while running on low octane fuels. "