Latest news from BMW M division!

[Moletko]

Extracts from AMS interview with BMW M division new chief Ulirich Bruhnke:

- M division is expecting to increase sales numbers of its models

- M5, M6 and M6 Cabrio are on the way

- a possibility that Z4 M will be built because of big prospects' interest

- MB SLR / Porsche Carrera GT / Audi LeMans competitior will be built (by M divisioon) only if marketing research confirms a need for this kind of model - no activities yet; BUT there will be a concept (a design study) of such a supercar shown at one of the coming auto shows!!!

- no M Touring models and X3 / X5 in plan (reasons: SUV's don't suit M philosophy; touring plays insignificant role in USA - M's most important market)

- M will stick with NA engines (no turbos) and will concetrate on lightweight constructions (more CSL models in the future)


Source: Auto-Motor-und-Sport

[Gustav]

Wo-ho, great news! A supercar!

But no M5 Touring? Contraditcion to what Mr Pormmesberger said before

[Enigma]

There is a bit of a contradiction here. The USA is the M's most important market and they are focusing on new CSL type models. Does this mean we may actually see a CSL in the USA?

[de Witt]

Originally Posted by Gustav

Wo-ho, great news! A supercar!

Maybe look back at the M8 and the proposed competition with the F40? Hopefully, with M as a GmbH, they can do it with out the BMW AG boneheads messing it up. Any specualtions on this one? For me, this is the most intriguing of the news (besides CSL versions), because:

1) M8 should have happened. Unbelieveable possibility with that car and the engine they built for it. I would love to see the prototype of the M8 in action for only a few seconds and I would be more than happy.

2) Supercar. Z8 doesnt cut it for supercar, and in fact, there has never been a BMW supercar. With BMW engines, there should be a supercar. And IMHO, it would be really awesome if M stayed true to some of its roots and made this more along the line of the F40, meaning no luxury (no ac, no radio, nothing unnecessary) and built for speed and handling.

This is very promising! Thanks for the news!

[BmwNut]

Very interesting indeed. Glad the M philisophy is still intact, and that only cars deserving of the M denotation get it. I think there are some intense years coming out soon for M with all the pressure they have taken from AMG.
I cant wait to see what crops up, and a supercar (and not just a nice convertable like the Z*) would be nice.

[Pierce]

Thank you Mr. Bruhnke for keeping the M name true to its heritage.

Pierce!

[ArsenalFC]

Great News.... M does need a supercar to compete with MB SLR

[HBRAMSTEDT]

OK, who will ask about torque now? Who will be the first to talk nonsense about how MB will always dominate the BMW supercar because it has more torque?

If the supercar happens, it like the M5, will bury the competition. Then maybe 5 years from now Audi and Caddy will have a car that matches that level of performance and some will say "oh, look out, Audi is now starting to dominate the performance car arena, and all you need to do is put some extra boost on that turbo and it will eat everything alive." All a bunch of b.s.

[Terk]

So you have to assume that the upcoming M5/M6 models will be done right and well executed. BMW M will surely leap frog above the current MB and Audi product but the time they take to catch up this time will be surely shorter than during the E39 M5 era.

[BmwNut]

Originally Posted by HBRAMSTEDT

OK, who will ask about torque now? Who will be the first to talk nonsense about how MB will always dominate the BMW supercar because it has more torque?

If the supercar happens, it like the M5, will bury the competition. Then maybe 5 years from now Audi and Caddy will have a car that matches that level of performance and some will say "oh, look out, Audi is now starting to dominate the performance car arena, and all you need to do is put some extra boost on that turbo and it will eat everything alive." All a bunch of b.s.

Sounds like most threads I have read in the last few months. Good stuff.
I agree with you Terk, I dont think Audi and MB will let themselves get caught with their pants down again. It took them both many years to finally make a car that is was direct and honest competiton. Those years meant a lot of $ lost to the rival, and not too many car companies like doing that twice (except for with the Mustang...it was rarely faster than the GM counterparts...for the good part of almost 40 years. Ok Ok, it had other merits... )

[vndkshn]

Originally Posted by Terk

BMW M will surely leap frog above the current MB and Audi product but the time they take to catch up this time will be surely shorter than during the E39 M5 era.

Especially when you can argue that MB and Audi have already passed BMW.

NOT SAYING THAT IS TRUE!!! SO HOLD THE FLAMES!!

But, everyone measures a great car by something different.

Staying away from FI (turbos or superchargers) will make the goal of building a supercar "better" than all of the others difficult. But it will only be difficult because it will depend on who is defining the "supercar". Some look at raw speed, raw acceleration, but have some compromises in the handling, braking, and feel departments (I would put MB in this group). Some look at "balanced" cars that handle, stop, have great feel, but give away some raw speed and acceleration (I would put BMW in this group, at least the current M5, we will see about the new one soon hopefully). The ones that are into raw power say that the "balanced" crowd are making excuses for their "slow" cars. The balanced crowd go after the raw power crowd with "yeah, but get it in the twisties".

Who is right? What is a supercar?

And sorry to say it.. but torque will come up, because that is the measurement that some use to measure how great a car is.

[M!]

Good News!
SLR/Carrera GT/Enzo / or even LMQ competitor sounds good. Time to see the F1 efforts go back to ultra high end super cars.

btw, does BMW have the $$$ or the technology to make one? looks like even DC outsource to mclaren and audi has its lamborghini (and perhaps even bentley and bugatti cost sharing) as technology partner for development and manufacturering.