Don't go getting too excited, it probably won't mean a crate version of the S65 or N54 for Roundel fans. Running an automaker is expensive, especially a manufacturer that leans more toward niche status than casting a wide net. BMW is looking at all options for future revenue, and one of the thoughts that's occured to the well-respected manufacturer of cars with chutzpah is to bank on its engineering chops and sell engines to other carmakers. Lotus has pimped themselves out for years to other automakers, and the Porsche name has ended up on things like hard drives, so BMW selling their award-winning engines to gain an extra stream of return on their investment is a far less radical move. Hey, if selling their more mundane powerplants to emerging markets like India and China keeps the coffers full and awesome performers rolling our way, we're all for it.
[Source: Motor Authority]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Louis Duran @ May 26th 2007 2:28PM
"Lotus has pimped themselves out for years to other automakers"
For some reason this is one of my pet peeves... Saying that Lotus "pimped themselves out" makes it seem like Lotus has done something immoral or wrong. However the way people have begun to use "pimped" is now synonymous with any person/company who tries to make money with their expertise or product. See how the phrase is losing its original intended meaning? This is an example of poor writing by someone trying to be "hip" or colloquial and bastardizing language.
brandonmckinley @ May 27th 2007 6:34AM
Don't at all forget that from day one we've never spoken the "Queens english." We've been bastardizing the language for hundreds of years and the ONLY reason you have such a problem with that term and how itis becuase of it's origins. That you for providing proof that racism still exist.
Don @ May 28th 2007 5:24PM
Thanks for the lesson...I'm going to sleep now.
design27 @ May 26th 2007 2:33PM
If you're going to bring up the work of Porsche Design Group, you should also know that BMW has been running a similar project known as DesignworksUSA for over 30 years.
jude @ May 26th 2007 4:18PM
My understanding is that Porsche Design is a separate entity started by the son/grandson/nephew? of Ferdinand Porsche and has never really been a subsidiary or division of the Porsche that we all know and love. Is this incorrect?
Tony D. @ May 26th 2007 2:43PM
Looking for new revenue? I'm just wondering when they are going to bring back the Triumph name...?
SOhp101 @ May 26th 2007 2:55PM
Like Duran said, 'pimped themselves out to other automakers' would be incorrect terminology. I agree with Louis 100% on this one... I don't speak with that type of slang but I sure know when it's being used incorrectly.
Plus, selling engines to other automakers is very different from selling the brand name to be placed on various products.
Assuming that a great engine will automatically result in awesome performers is not very likely.
Val @ May 26th 2007 3:12PM
Weismann of germany is already using BMW inline 6 and V8 engines, and there was some other car using the V8 from the old M5, but i can't remember which one. They should be careful though not to shoot themselves in the leg, because the engine is a huge part of the appeal of a BMW, and if another car has it, it may draw customers away form them.
Robz4 @ May 26th 2007 3:34PM
BMW has done it before ...few times...The awesome McLaren F1 supercar had a BMW V12 engine on it and Land Rover used a V8 BMW engine on the Range Rovers for a while.
ruggels @ May 26th 2007 3:34PM
I think Val hit it on the head, and I don't think BMW is going to be, say, selling 335i powerplants to GM or the like, but rather would continue in the a) weismann vein, or pull a VAG (VW sells a few engines in large quantities to other automakers, especially recent agreements to sell tdi power plants). If BMW could focus on niche cars I doubt it would impact their sales... trouble is, I also doubt there's a ton of worth while money to be had in such sales... then again... people don't buy a bmw for the engine, they buy it for the entire package, the weight distribution, the handling, etc. Sure the engine is a tremendous part of that package... but I doubt people would be running away in droves to other manufacturers.
Porsche's been pretty smart about this in the past, ie: the RS2, which had zero overlap with any of their products.
BCM @ May 26th 2007 3:54PM
Ford used BMW turbodiesel sixes in the 1984-85 Lincoln Mark VII, e. g. Only a few hundred were sold, so they're now considered somewhat collectible. But it's not an entirely new practice for BMW.
ruggels @ May 26th 2007 4:29PM
jude:
from google/wiki, top search result:
"Porsche Lizenz- und Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG [Porsche Design Group], based in Bietigheim-Bissingen, is a majority-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG in Stuttgart. The company’s activities are focused on the business areas Porsche Design, Porsche Design Driver’s Selection and the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See, Austria."
per it's founding:
"Professor Ferdinand Alexander "Butzi" Porsche, designer of the Porsche 911 and grandson of the Porsche founder, opened the Porsche Design Studio in Stuttgart in 1972, which was moved to Zell am See, Austria, two years later. The 911 quickly became the quintessential sports car and a design classic, along with many other products that Professor F. A. Porsche designed. Over the following decades, numerous classic men’s accessories such as watches, glasses and writing utensils were created and marketed worldwide under the “Porsche Design” brand. At the same time, many industrial products and household- and consumer goods for internationally recognized clients, including streetcars for the city of Vienna, were developed under the “Design by F.A. Porsche” brand. All of the studio’s works are distinguished by a clear and functional design language, careful selection of materials and high-quality workmanship, which combines artisan tradition with state-of-the-art technology. Since 2005 all products have been developed and marketed under the brand Porsche Design."
HotRodzNKustoms @ May 26th 2007 4:40PM
Morgan uses a BMW V-8 out of a M5
DDL @ May 26th 2007 6:47PM
Honda considered doing the same thing for a while, noting that they are an engine company first and foremost. I believe the only example was the 3.5L V-6 in the Saturn VUE. Rover pre-BMW was more of an outright partnership. Toyota also provided engines to Lotus for the Elise and Ford has a history of providing motors and other parts bin stuff to niche manufactures such as Panoz.
Blake @ May 26th 2007 7:13PM
You English majors need to chill out. Never mind the fact that your posts have nothing to do with the actual topic at hand. Go proofread elsewhere.
Greg A. @ May 26th 2007 8:53PM
I presume that BMW doesn't, and won't, allow purchasers of its engines to label them or market them as BMW engines.
pe_tor @ May 26th 2007 9:22PM
Mmmmm...Imagine an inline 6 turbo from BMW in a rear wheel drive mazda (ok, that's only slightly less realistic than the upcoming 3.5 liter turbo V6 from ford), or perhaps in something from the upcoming mid-sized RWD platform that GM is considering.
Though the more I think about it, most automakers who could benefit from a wonderful engine like this, could really make their own if they wanted to, at least by the time it could be realistically implemented in a vehicle.
But for the smaller automakers, this could be quite useful (Lotus Esprit?).
Kazuya @ May 27th 2007 1:46AM
I'd just love to have myself a M3 engine to transplant into a project car... mmmmm.
teknokracy @ May 27th 2007 3:56AM
Please, god no.
Lest we see Integras with straight-sixes and "type r" stickers on the valve covers...
Stéphane Dumas @ May 27th 2007 7:54AM
We could add others examples like the Buick V6 who was sold to Kaiser-Jeep (before AMC buyed Jeep in 1970) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_V6_engine#225 and GM buyed a bit later from AMC the tooling and the rights to the V6. Also the V8 215 aluminium engine which GM sold to Rover in 1965 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_V8_engine#215
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_V8_engine