NYIAS: We Discuss M5, M6, M3 and M Performance Automobiles with BMW M

[ATX78703]

I am still hoping and praying that maybe they bring the M135i over as the first M performance vehicle. I know they dont think we deserve a premium luxury compact hatch, but maybe the business case doesnt have to be that convincing for just the M performance model.

I just think a X1 M35i is kinda pointless to debut the brand mainly because it is an E series platform and would prob weigh 3800-4000 lbs.

[rmani]

man that m6 coupe looks downright mean from the front.

[09BlkSapphire]

Nice interview thanks guys. Nice to know the 2013 changes are not customer facing so the current 2012 don't feel outdated or have older tech.

Can't wait for full ordering info. Can't wait to see what an m5 in sakhir orange!

[mkoesel]

I wonder if he has driven an "M4" coupe, or just the M3 sedan. His verbiage makes it a bit ambiguous. Not that it matters too much as they will likely be similar in performance. But I would think the M3 sedan is a lot further along in development and thus a better representation of how the final car will be.

[BMWDavid]

Originally Posted by rmani

man that m6 coupe looks downright mean from the front.

It looks and feels good from the driver's seat too!

Regards,
David M Aviles

[czechchamp]

Originally Posted by kbryce

i really hope they don't call the coupe an m4

[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The forthcoming Z4 Life Cycle Impulse will see the Z4 35iS absorbed into the BMW M Performance Automobiles line.

Is it just going to be a name change, or is there going to be anyhting mechanically different. Also I thought they were not going to do an LCI on the Z4.

[Rich@GTBPerformance]

Great interview with a lot of interesting tidbits!

[DiavelM3]

Originally Posted by Jason

M3

Jason, thanks for the info but when he says this:

Can you provide any more specific time frame for the end of production of E92/E93 M3?

The E92 M3 coupe will cease production in the middle of 2013 (as a 2013 model year) and the E93 M3 convertible will stop production a few months after the coupe's end of production. [To repeat what Matt Russell has said in an earlier interview, there will be no successor M3/M4 until all E9x M3 models cease production, so expect the next M3/M4 to come as a 2014 model year].


Does this mean that the time frame to order an E92 M3 has increased? I was told by the my local dealership that May of this year is the last month you can put in an order for an E92 M3 before production ceases...

[Jason]

Originally Posted by ferrari4evr1

Jason, thanks for the info but when he says this:

Can you provide any more specific time frame for the end of production of E92/E93 M3?

The E92 M3 coupe will cease production in the middle of 2013 (as a 2013 model year) and the E93 M3 convertible will stop production a few months after the coupe's end of production. [To repeat what Matt Russell has said in an earlier interview, there will be no successor M3/M4 until all E9x M3 models cease production, so expect the next M3/M4 to come as a 2014 model year].


Does this mean that the time frame to order an E92 M3 has increased? I was told by the my local dealership that May of this year is the last month you can put in an order for an E92 M3 before production ceases...

Your local dealer is simply wrong. See the announcement I posted at M3POST - http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=672080

This information comes from the BMW M Brand Manager for North America. He's going to provide the correct info over a local dealer (whose motivation will always be to get customers to order sooner than later).

[DiavelM3]

Originally Posted by Jason

Your local dealer is simply wrong. See the announcement I posted at M3POST - http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=672080

This information comes from the BMW M Brand Manager for North America. He's going to provide the correct info over a local dealer (whose motivation will always be to get customers to order sooner than later).

Thank you Jason! I appreciate the update..
Damn dealers

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by ATX78703

I am still hoping and praying that maybe they bring the M135i over as the first M performance vehicle. I know they dont think we deserve a premium luxury compact hatch, but maybe the business case doesnt have to be that convincing for just the M performance model.

Right and they are going to do millions of dollars of mandated homologation testing for a single model that will be extremely low volume in a price point that will be too high to compete with the competition.... not happening. If anything they would bring the volume seller over in hatch form and then the low volume high performance model. Plus they do not want to compete with MINI and take away sales from them.

The US is not getting a hatch unless they have no other way of hitting CAFE numbers and then it will be a frugally priced model.

The X1 is here and it is priced right to sell in volumes. The X1 is not competing with the Countryman on many levels but that is part of the reason for no manual, that and it would be very low volume.

The Z4 will get the M Performance treatment and then one would expect the X1 to. I doubt they are going to launch with that this fall- maybe they are but I doubt it so that would put it off to at least next March- meaning the Z4 may come at the same time.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by ferrari4evr1

Thank you Jason! I appreciate the update..
Damn dealers

They are giving it the full length in part bc demand is very high. The car is still best in class and they do not want to race a car in DTM that is not being produced any more. They have a few more limited runs to do as well to keep it interesting.

Love the M3.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by bimmerjph

Is it just going to be a name change, or is there going to be anyhting mechanically different. Also I thought they were not going to do an LCI on the Z4.

N54 is done by the end of this year so at the very minimum there will be an engine change (to N55).

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

N54 is done by the end of this year so at the very minimum there will be an engine change (to N55).

There will be the additional M-Engineered changes that feature on the other M Performance Automobiles such as the M550d , X5/X6M50d and the M135i on the Z4 and X1 M35i to distinguish them further from the regular 35i.
M Performance is not just about "cosmetics"

X1 and Z4M35i are purely quasi-M cars as a business case could not be found to transform them into full M Vehicles. So this is the next best thing.

The Sporthatch 1er is not coming to the USA , neither is the M135i.
When the Coupe and Cabrio appear then the M235i will come to the USA.

[hks786]

That blue is stunning. BMW have always had nice blues. Can't wait to see pics of M6 coupe in that colour.

[HBspeed]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

There will be the additional M-Engineered changes that feature on the other M Performance Automobiles such as the M550d , X5/X6M50d and the M135i on the Z4 and X1 M35i to distinguish them further from the regular 35i.
M Performance is not just about "cosmetics"

X1 and Z4M35i are purely quasi-M cars as a business case could not be found to transform them into full M Vehicles. So this is the next best thing.

The Sporthatch 1er is not coming to the USA , neither is the M135i.
When the Coupe and Cabrio appear then the M235i will come to the USA.

Does this imply anything regarding the future M2 we all are anticipating? Will there be only a M235i, or will we get both a M235i and an M2?

[09BlkSapphire]

Originally Posted by HBspeed

Does this imply anything regarding the future M2 we all are anticipating? Will there be only a M235i, or will we get both a M235i and an M2?

An m235i probably doesn't rule out an M2 since there's both a M550d and an M5.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by 09BlkSapphire

An m235i probably doesn't rule out an M2 since there's both a M550d and an M5.

True. The question is, what would power an M2?

It is an even bigger unknown than what will power the M3/M4. The most obvious answer is probably to take the M3/M4 engine (whatever it might be), detune it or modify it in some way for a bit less power, and use that. At the same time there has been rumors (mostly from SCOTT) that the M2 would see M Division return to a 4 cylinder engine which they have not featured since the E30 M3. However, it remains uncertain whether they can build an I4 that makes upwards of 350hp or so, yet remains fuel efficient and performs up to BMW standards for smooth power delivery and durability.