Detroit Auto Show: BMW's full M range
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It seems every automaker is lining up these days to snag their letter in the alphabet for their high-performance divisions. Audi's claimed S, while Chevy has SS; Honda has the Type-R and Volkswagen launched the R-line; Mercedes acquired AMG and Ford still has SVT. Now Lexus has laid claim to the letter F, but BMW has always had M.
Unfortunately BMW's stoic performance division didn't have anything special in store for us at this year's Detroit show, but they did have their full M range lined up all pretty like in sparkling white at the back of their booth. The whole gang was there, including the Z4-based M Roadster and M Coupe, the M5 sedan and the M6 coupe and convertible. It was a wet dream come true for fans of the ultimate driving machines, so for all you BMW enthusiasts out there we went by to snap a few photos. Click here to check 'em out or on any of the thumbnails below.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
RWS 11:51AM (1/16/2007)
I'm sorry, but the Z4 M Coupe is still is as ugly as all hell.
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J.Reid 12:33PM (1/16/2007)
I recently completed the BMW Performance Driving school and got to drive the full range of M cars. I drove an M6, M5, and M Coupe. In all honesty, everyone in our group said the M Coupe was the most fun to drive. The car just feels completely raw and has so much "seat of the pants" fun. The M6 and M5 are awesome but the SMG takes some getting used to. when not in sport mode the shift feels very hard and slow. the M6 handles like a dream around corners though.
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bland moves 1:21PM (1/16/2007)
the whole gang except for the most important M-car of them all - the M3
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ezbst 12:53PM (1/16/2007)
These photos could use some while balance adjustments. And the M Coupe is not ugly, you just didn't have enough beer. :p
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terry hodak 1:27PM (1/16/2007)
Who decided that there is not a market for an M7?
They could take a lesson from AMG in market strategy
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Gooch 1:34PM (1/16/2007)
I guess they're holding off showing the new M3 until close to its launch. I still like the E46 M3 personally, but if the new one is as muscular-looking as the E46 M3, then I will want the V8.
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fuscob 1:38PM (1/16/2007)
#5 (Terry Hodak):
It's not that they don't think there is a market for an M7, it's that they desire to keep the Motorsport brand pure. What Mercedes has done with AMG is whore it out to every single car they manufacture. In addition, the AMG models basically equal a huge, powerful engine and a bodykit, whereas M models are almost completely different from their normal counterparts.
There is no place in a very different organization like BMW M for a car like the S65 or (god forbid) the ML63. Even the M6 is a bit of a stretch, as it's really more of a grand tourer.
If I were running things, there'd be an M Coupe, M3 (coupe, no convertible), and M5 (but lightened and 6-spd manual only).
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fizzandpop 2:46PM (1/16/2007)
I agree with with #7. They shouldn't make an M model that they don't race. They've built that privateer special Z4 M coupe for competition, obviously the M3 will be in touring car events around the world. I'm not sure if anyone races the M5 anywhere, but it's the traditional showcase model. All the others Ms are not really "on brief" and so should revert to the old way of badging (like the ol' 635i M). Looking at the pictures, I thought for a second that they'd created an M bike. But that would just be batty.
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BMW M videos 3:47PM (1/16/2007)
I was checking the used market on the new M5 and they are not holding to their value very well, I think they are over producing the M cars.
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Shrapnel 4:27PM (1/16/2007)
Ummm...you all need a history lesson of sorts. The M1 was a race car. The first truly road-going production M car was the M5 followed by the M6. So saying that the only true M cars are raced (like the M3) is ignorant at best. The first M3, the E30 model, did not show up until the late 80s.
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Andy 12:01AM (1/17/2007)
"It's not that they don't think there is a market for an M7, it's that they desire to keep the Motorsport brand pure. What Mercedes has done with AMG is whore it out to every single car they manufacture."
SPOT-ON.
The Z4 looks hideous to me--topless or not. The same goes with the 5 and the 7. They're bloated sedans. The only BMW I take an interest in the 6, which still looks too heavy. How I long for the 507 of the 1950s. The Z8 was a joke attempt.
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koppe 4:42PM (1/16/2007)
The z4 coupe is character on wheels.
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fizzandpop 6:39PM (1/16/2007)
Shrapnel, check yourself. The M6 came out in '83 before the M5 and was raced all over Europe, even rallied. The original Five Series M car was the M535i which came out in '81 and raced in the BTTC and loads of other series. The first M5 came out in '84, raced, won, etc. The e30 M3 followed just six months later in early '85 (not the late 80s) raced, blah, blah, blah.
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shrapnel 10:49PM (1/16/2007)
E30 M3 was an '86 - is that not late 80s? Mid-80s? Ok...
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SOhp101 8:54AM (1/17/2007)
Big deal--they had this showcased at the LA Auto Show.
#7 & #8, good thing you're not running the M division, that's for sure. M cars aren't even pure performance; it's about the balance between performance and luxury with emphasis on the former.
#12, you need to learn to read. #10 said the first production M car is the M5, NOT the first one raced. The M5 is considered to be the first one produced for the mass market.
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formfaktor 8:42PM (1/18/2007)
#7 totally agree on your comment for #5. BMW M comes right out of pure Motorsports. AMG is a sissy product strategy. When all these guys Audi, Mercedes and other were tooling around with turbos, year back, BMW always had the definite answer for real motorsports feel. Porsche is the only other one that has that, but they dont package it up with a combination for with everyday practical use.
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