The CEO of BMW M GmbH, Ludwig Willisch, spilled his guts to Auto-Motor-und-Sport in a recent interview about the future of BMW's high-performance M division. The news was good, bad, and downright dumbfounding. For the good, Willish mentioned that future M-models will include high-revving turbocharged engines, and offer ceramic brakes. The bad news is that there will be no E91 M3 Touring, E92 M3 CSL, or M1 Concept. Apparently, BMW doesn't feel there is enough of a market to support those vehicles. The perplexing news is that BMW is currently working on M-versions of the X5 and X6 (apparently to answer a question that enthusiasts have yet to ask). While we cannot control the electrochemical signals being sent between neurons within BMW's think tank, we can continue to hope that BMW doesn't dilute the M-brand the way Mercedes-Benz has with AMG.
[Source: Auto-motor-und-sport via BMWblog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
shadysi @ Jul 29th 2008 2:35PM
what in the world are they smoking in bavarian land...
3seriesisking @ Jul 29th 2008 7:21PM
I'd love to know the answer to that as well. I will be very disappointed to see an M badge on anything that begins with X in BMW's lineup. Those two letters just don't line up in my mind. Everything that the M pedigree stands for just doesn't include big vehicles like X's. Regardless of how awesome the X M's will be, I just don't feel it's the right thing to do.
ken_aisin @ Jul 29th 2008 2:39PM
It's retarded to slap the M badge on the X6. One of the ugliest BMW ever.
E91 M3 would definitely sell like hot cakes. Just take a look the the Audi RS4 and RS6 wagon.
azzo45 @ Jul 29th 2008 2:51PM
Agreed... M badged SUV but kill what a "M" BMW truly is?
Please tell me this post is a very early "April Fools" joke!
RG @ Jul 29th 2008 2:43PM
Good lord, BMW is becoming worse than a politician with all this flip-flopping.
First they will never use turbo gas engines. Whoops.
Then the ///M brand will remain NA and not go forced induction. Whoops, lets try that again.
Numerous times it has been said that there will never be an ///M version of the X5. Jeez, wrong again!
No market for the M1? Better tell Audi, they didn't get that memo with the R8. Then again, they are busy shuffling through waiting lists.
No market for an M3 CSL? Yup, that should last until the RS5 bows with 450+hp.
I guess I will have to tune in next month when BMW strategy for the ///M division changes once more.
Mobius_1 @ Jul 29th 2008 10:14PM
Totally, I actually think there is no market for the X5 and X6 as everyone seems to become suddenly so obsessed with fuel economy
Eddie @ Jul 29th 2008 2:43PM
I think BMW should focus on a M7 way before it focuses on a X6-M. Is BMW not aware of the S63/S65, Quattroporte and the S8?
Zane @ Jul 29th 2008 3:02PM
There's already an M7 equivalent - the Alpina B7.
phooky @ Jul 29th 2008 5:13PM
Yeah but there's no 7 M equivalent that doesn't suck.
Richard @ Jul 29th 2008 2:44PM
So.....from "The Ultimate Driving Machine" to "Best Truck to Drive"
I guess I would now consider the "M" badge to be diluted....maybe the whole brand.
SPG @ Jul 29th 2008 3:13PM
The ultimate in seating for five with cargo is cool on the M5, but the X5 M? loses it's meaning.
P.S. can't call it an MX5 or an M5, is this just going to be dressing like the XC90 R?
Cary @ Jul 30th 2008 1:44AM
I'd like to know how this guy thinks AMG is diluted. He's dilusional. Yeah, a 451bhp C63 that does 0-60 in 3.99 [my best recorded time] is diluted? Suck a big fat one buddy. I'd also like tyou to explain how the Black Series cars are so diluted. Enjoy your spirited drives in your Corolla, dick.
Richard @ Jul 30th 2008 8:13AM
Well, originally, AMG only tuned one or two models. They used totally hand-built engines, were very rare and highly desired.
Now, AMG turns out something like 18,000 per year and it is hard to hand build that many engines.
They are all still great goers but, as evidenced here, a bit of the polish is gone.
BlackCanary @ Jul 29th 2008 2:45PM
So that would make a M-X5 and an M-X6? Mazda may mind. ;)
Auday @ Jul 29th 2008 2:51PM
I dont see Turbo charged M cars as a good thing, it's a bigger dilution to the M badge than the M X cars.
M1 might cost more than the selling price and might not sell well, but it will definitely enhance BMW sporting image that it's losing slowly to other competitors.
BMWsRock @ Jul 29th 2008 2:52PM
Who cares about an M version of a SUV/crossover?! I'd rather have a M3 lightweight version, baby!
Kumail @ Jul 29th 2008 2:54PM
i still love the new M6.
SPG @ Jul 29th 2008 3:11PM
AMG lost it's meaning for me when you could get an AMG package on the R class.
Not expanding the M3 seems amazing, is there really no market for it?
As far as an M version of the X5 and X6, I'd prefer to simply just get a Dinan verison of the X5 as not to encourage more mismanagment of the division.
Zane @ Jul 29th 2008 3:15PM
Given the way things are progressing at AMG and ///M, I hope Audi (Quattro GmbH) don't go around creating RSQ7s and RSA1s.
jg @ Jul 29th 2008 3:18PM
There won't be an 'M' SUV. It'll be an 'iS'
Whenever anyone in the business of making money says they will never do something, don't believe them. If what they say they will never do can actually turn a profit they will do it.