German Car Forum

BMW executives have confirmed that an M version of the X5 is on the cards but, we’re told, there won’t be a current series M1.

An M version of the next BMW X5 is highly likely, while an M version of the current 1 Series is highly unlikely. But a manual M5's a definite ... at least for the US.

In Portugal last week for the international launch of the Z4M Coupe, president of BMW’s M division, Professor Ulrich Bruhnke said no decision to build an M version of the X5 had yet been made but the project was under development.

Prof Bruhnke said that all M projects put to the BMW board for approval needed to go through a four-step process: from the original idea, development of that idea, a business case and, if approved, the building of a prototype.

In the case of an M version of the X5, “We are at step two,” Prof Bruhnke said.

He said he’d test driven a prototype X5 built by the M division “five or six years ago”, and been impressed. Former F1 driver and sometime M division test driver Hans Stuck had also been impressed after lapping the benchmark Nurburgring north circuit in 7m 49s.

With the second generation X5 due for its northern hemisphere debut late this year – and spy photographs of the vehicle already appearing on the internet (no, we can’t yet show you pics here) – an M version of the current car’s obviously not going to happen. But Prof Bruhnke was bullish about an M version of the next X5 which, he said, some markets were expecting.

To illustrate his point, Prof Bruhnke used a colourful example. “The Arabs went with camels into the desert to make decisions,” he said. “Now they go in X5s and Cayennes.” If BMW wanted to be competitive against the likes of the recently launched Cayenne Turbo S, he said, it needed an M version of the X5.

Where the current range-topping X5 4.8is offers 265kW and 500Nm, the Cayenne Turbo S delivers 383kW and 720Nm. Obviously, though still well shy of the turbo Cayenne’s massive torque figure, the M5 V10’s 373kW and 520Nm in an M Car X5 would be closer to the mark.

For obvious reasons, we’d say BMW would have a fight on its hands with Mazda if it followed current M car naming procedure and called the car the MX5.

Prof Bruhnke said the next M car would be the M6 convertible, due “…in a few months”. “Others would follow,” he said.

“We have some gaps in the M car lineup,” Prof Bruhnke said. But it was difficult to make a business case for an M version of the 1 series. “We’d need to invest almost as much as an M3,” he said. Another BMW executive at the launch later confirmed that there wouldn’t be an M1 version of the current generation 1 Series. “The 130i has enough power,” he said.

In other M news, Prof Bruhnke said BMW would soon offer a manual version of the M5 in the US. Although the car has been criticised in some circles for being overly complicated in its current sequential transmission form, Prof Bruhnke said the decision to offer a manual M5 had been made because, “Owners want to show that they can handle a manual gearchange”.

SOURCE

X5 M is still far off from realization. Ideas are not everything - despite BMW are trying to convince us just the opposite.

M version is not in the X5 product plan.

I doubt BMW marketing dept. and than the Board will give a green light since they are very consistent in branding.

Independantly from what Bruhnke are saying Mr. Ganal (BMW Group chief of marketing) said many times SUVs are not consistent of what "M" represents. Like BMW will never built a van, there will never be a M version of a SUV.

But the X5 could get a very powerful iS / Si version. Mind that the NG V8 turbo engine (not the standard, but uptuned version) can reach the 500hp mark.

An M5 manual in the works for the US market, thats good news!!
That would be the M5 for me!

X5 M .. HAHA.. where did that M philosphy go??
any clues..

I think in the end the BOD will decide (correctly) that the negative impact on the equity of the M brand is reason enough to keep an X5 M off their roster. A bad-ass Si model will more than suffice, although I'm sure there's plenty of sickos who'd love an M SUV.

Please don't do it.

It's still there.

M GmbH had a lot of ideas in the past - and also made prototypes of cars that never made it to production.

E.g.
E53 X5 LeMans - a X5 M prototype
E31 M8 prototype
E39 M5 Touring prototype

There will be no X5 M. New iS will be enough.

BMW has 4 stages and X5M is only in second stage, not even decided if there will be one.

Sounds interesting, no mention of the M7 though!

What I'd like to know is why the American market demand a manual M5, while the rest of the world don't. I thought America was the land of autos, so why would they want a manual, and why can't europe get it as well! Also will the M6 get a manual as well?

It's that plucky American DIY attitude.

"I don' need no stinkin' computers to shift mah gears!"

Us brits already make fun of X5 owners let alone if they make a M version of it.

And what's so funny about X5 British owners? I'm very curious to know.

I really really hope we get a 2 series coupe very very soon. From there we need at least an m2 coupe with 320hp 6cil and lightweight.

New m3 v8 is bigger longer and it will be more expensive. The e46 m3 was already very expensive. Bmw should offer something cheaper than the v8 m3.
The M2 would fit in perfectly.

After 2 times buying an e46 m3 i don t gonna take the more expensive route to go e90 m3 v8. Then i rather buy me a secondhand GT3. If the m2 comes i buy me the m2 for certain.

Bmw motorsport should offer a nice little agile screamer M2. I be the first in line.

now i really really really hope they make a X5 M.. just to see the BMW fans reaction

No, i just want some really big engine and M packagae - like on mine 535d.

Yeah, i'd like to know that too. Sounds little stupid to me...

Yea, I'd like to know as well!

We do have this thing against all SUVs and call them Chelsea tractors because they never go off road! But I don't think there is anything against only X5s!

While the majority of Americans do prefer an automatic transmissions, there still is a large number of enthusiasts that like manual transmissions. Especially the type of people that would buy an M5. Plus F1 isn't that big here in America so the lure of an F1 style transmission doesn't excite people.

Fond this on fastlanenews.com...


BMW X5 M a possibility, M1 unlikely

It seems every time we hear BMW will or won’t build more “M” cars, another report comes along to the contrary. In March, BMW CEO Helmut Panke said a BMW M7 was a possibility, despite years of saying BMW wouldn’t build such a large “M” car. Then, early this week, BMW North America’s Howard Mosher said BMW would not expand its “M” lineup to all of its models, as Mercedes has done with its AMG unit. Now, BMW’s M division boss Ulrich Bruhnke has told Australia’s Wheels magazine that BMW is seriously considering an X5 M, but is unlikely to build an M1.

He said there are four steps to creating a new M car: the original idea, development of that idea, a business case, and building of a prototype. In the case of the X5, “we are at step two,” he said.

According to Bruhnke, BMW got as far as building an X5 M prototype five years ago, but nothing came of it. With an all-new X5 right around the corner, the possibility of an X5 M is again on the table.

As for an M version of the 1-Series, don’t count on it, says Bruhnke. He said it would cost as much as the M3 to develop, and wouldn’t necessarily be worth the investment. What’s more, he said, “the 130i has enough power.” BMW is expected to sell coupe and convertible versions of the 1-Series in North America.


... a possibility people, it's not confirmed!!!

It sounds like it's saying exactly the same as the article just_me posted!