The Future - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

pnoble · 10th August 2002, 03:17

Just got my copy of September's Automobile Magazine in the mail.

Really an interesting glimpse into the automotive future, from my POV:

Bentley GT: 4500lb, 550HP, 675lb-ft, paddle shift, sub 5sec. 0-60. $147K.

MB CLE Coupe w/398hp, 410lb-ft, 4 door, Beautiful looking.

Porsche Cayenne: Just UGLY. The designer must be CB's cousin. Justly crucified by their design analyst, Robert Cumberford. Worst design review since the 745. Worse even.

Nissan 350Z - 0-60 5.5sec, 0.92+g, starting at $26,809, TT styling. Enraptured reviewers everywhere.

Viper - now 500HP, 525lb-ft, 3442 lb. Fast. Period.

MB SL55 AMG, 493HP, 0-60 4.6sec. $105K. Saw a black 500SL in Manhattan yesterday. Just beautiful.

BMW Z4: I've seen photos and renderings that didn't look bad at all but in this photo, just absolutely BUTT UGLY. Quote: "Like it or not, Chris Bangle's newfangled notions of style are spreading through BMW model lineup."

Are the Z4 and the Cayanne the only ugly cars in their '50 Hottest New Cars of 2003' review? Hell, no. Feast your eyes on them: the Infinit FX45, the Subaru BAJA, to name two. (IMHO).

BMW 760Li: Quote: "BMW's not-for-everyone 7-series sedan takes another step towards exclusive..."

MB's new E-Class: another serious looker from my POV. All the fluid lines one sees across the whole MB line.

Audio RS6 Review: ..unlike the fluid, ultra-versatile M5, the RS6 at times can seem merely a tool for outrunning airplanes."

Boxter: Porsche gives it another measly 8HP, *****ly afraid to cannibalize its 911 sales.

and then there's the $400K+ Mayerbach 62. But that's before the $20,000 passenger moonroof option. 543HP, 664 lb-ft. Airbag equiped sleeper seats are standard.

So what's my point? The automobile market is alive and well. There are some great new models out there. And the M5 is still king for me.

PS: I saw BMW's sales results announced in the WSJ yesterday. Big increases. Claim the 7-series has been a big success for them. I can't believe it. If its true (and sales weren't broken out), CB will become Design God for Life and I'm heading for the exit.

KRM · 10th August 2002, 05:59

Nice recap, I agree with lots of points you mentioned. Even with similar styling characteristics to the 7-series, hopefully the E60 will be more acceptable

TCM · 10th August 2002, 08:24

You may also want to check out the new Road and Track. They also have future cars in there. Among the ones I liked were the new Nissan Skyline(picture the G35 rear with an R34 front nose

), the new Mustang, Cadillac XLR, and the Porsche 911. BMWs were disapointing as usual, although the new 6 did not look to Bangleized.

Adam · 10th August 2002, 12:16

Yeah it seems that bmw is happy with the way bangle is going the wrong way in the design stakes..however i am sure that suspension/engine/interior parts of bmw are floiurishing..and if you think about it..if the current e39 m5 is still king of the current crop of supersaloons...what the &ell is the new one going to be like?!!

the outward appearance may not be acceptable but im sure the rest will be brilliant!

all the best
adam

DannyMKIV · 10th August 2002, 12:22

You forgot to mention that the Bentley GT is AWD...a nice piece of machinery if you ask me.

MEnthusiast · 10th August 2002, 16:40

we shall see exactly how happy BMW is with DesignDeBangle when we see the first shots of the E60 in Sept. If it looks like a shrunken down 7er, yes, I agree the design is going in the wrong direction. I hear they were shocked about the incredibly negative reaction and will be restyling the E60 so the trunk isnt so bad.

Pamilih · 10th August 2002, 16:50

Quote:

Originally posted by DannyMKIV
You forgot to mention that the Bentley GT is AWD...a nice piece of machinery if you ask me.

It may as well be the VW Phaeton in a different guise. For those who were skeptical of the point why VW created a super luxury saloon!

Zman · 10th August 2002, 22:09

Please god help BMW make a perfect E60 so the style is as good as the performance!!!!!!

All I want for Christmas is an E60 M5 V10 500+ HP!!!!

MAVERICK · 10th August 2002, 22:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Zman

All I want for Christmas is an E60 M5 V10 500+ HP!!!!

Have you been a good boy this year, Matthew?

pnoble · 11th August 2002, 01:09

There seems to be bad news and good news on that count:

The bad news:

In September Road & Track below a two page picture of the BUTT UGLY (to my personal eye) new Z4 - it says, quote:

"Those of you who were hoping the all new BMW 745i was not a precursor to future designs from Munich, guess again. The German firm's new-for-'03 Z4 roadster is "characterized by the intriguing interplay of convex and concave surfaces, hard edges and curves" (I assume they are quoting a CB press release)...continuing on:

"We're hoping this is one of those cars that will look better in person than in photographs...as even our most devout BMW enthusiasts on staff have reservations about the Z4's shape. Most of the ciriticsm focuises on the extremely busy sides of the car, which have more angles and creases, in every which direction than a baddly ironed shirt. The trunk-with-a-hump at least serves the purpose of increasing luggage capacity."

The good news:

On page 52 is a rear side view of the new 6 series (official?), that though not particularly inspiring has clean sides and a flattened version of the 745 trunk. FYI the new 6 will be introduced in March at the Geneva auto show. A 500-bhp 5.0 liter V-10 M6 is planned. Ditto the M5. The text confirms that the new 5 will debut in September 03 at the Frankfurt auto show, after the 6.

With regard to the new 5, they say:"The intense criticism of the 7 Series may have had some effect if the spy photos of the upcoming 5 series are any indication (shown in May issue). The new midrange Bimmer has a clean, evolutionary look without the stepped up trunk of its larger flagship sedan."

And now...let us pray!!!!!!!