BMW hires Ferrari's chief engineer to M performance division

[Zafiro]

TURIN -- BMW has hired Ferrari's former technical director, Roberto Fedeli, for an as-yet unspecified role, the German automaker said today.

Fedeli will join the BMW Group in November, "but we currently can't say what his role will be," a BMW spokesman told Automotive News Europe.

A Ferrari spokesman said Fedeli left the sports car maker Sept. 13 and his resignation was not linked to thedeparture of Ferrari's long-time chairman, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. Fedeli quit before Montezemolo stepped down as Ferrari chairman, the spokesman said.

Fedeli joined Ferrari in 1988 and has been responsible for the engineering of all Ferrari cars since 2007. His most recent model is the limited production LaFerrari gasoline-electric hybrid supercar, the fastest road car built to date by the company.

At BMW, Fedeli is expected to use his expertise with the group's M performance division or with Rolls-Royce, according to Automotive News Europe sources.

Fedeli's duties at Ferrari have been taken up by the brand’s chief technological officer Michael Leiters, who joined the company from Porsche in January. Leiters held various roles at Porsche, including program manager for the Cayenne large luxury SUV.

BMW hires Ferrari's chief engineer

 

[Nik47]

TURIN -- BMW has hired Ferrari's former technical director, Roberto Fedeli, for an as-yet unspecified role, the German automaker said today.

Fedeli will join the BMW Group in November, "but we currently can't say what his role will be," a BMW spokesman told Automotive News Europe.

A Ferrari spokesman said Fedeli left the sports car maker Sept. 13 and his resignation was not linked to thedeparture of Ferrari's long-time chairman, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. Fedeli quit before Montezemolo stepped down as Ferrari chairman, the spokesman said.

Fedeli joined Ferrari in 1988 and has been responsible for the engineering of all Ferrari cars since 2007. His most recent model is the limited production LaFerrari gasoline-electric hybrid supercar, the fastest road car built to date by the company.

At BMW, Fedeli is expected to use his expertise with the group's M performance division or with Rolls-Royce, according to Automotive News Europe sources.

Fedeli's duties at Ferrari have been taken up by the brand’s chief technological officer Michael Leiters, who joined the company from Porsche in January. Leiters held various roles at Porsche, including program manager for the Cayenne large luxury SUV.

BMW hires Ferrari's chief engineer

So in the coming years we can expect M cars to use hybrid technology for improving the performance and efficiency. I think its a good move by BMW.

 

[Rolf]

Very interesting! This guy will maybe be more focused on the driving experience and power train character for future M cars. If they give him free reigns he will develope the M brand to be even more entertaining and powerful cars with great character to their engines and performance!

 

[Giannis]

First the Audi guy and now this one. It's very very interesting and clearly indicates that M will also consider more AWD offerings, plus a hybrid - a la LaFerrari - system.

 

[Zafiro]

I thought everyone here were going to shout "N/a engines are coming back!!"

 

[manuelf]

I thought everyone here were going to shout "N/a engines are coming back!!"

Almost
But since Ferrari is currently switching to FI engines also (see the California and 458 successor will also have FI engine) ... I bite my tongue

 

[klier]

I thought everyone here were going to shout "N/a engines are coming back!!"

They might, with electric back-up like the LaF and 918. A man can dream.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

so....should we expect a sports car that will trump the i8?

 

[SCOTT27]

so....should we expect a sports car that will trump the i8?

Yes but at a price that again undercuts the multi-million euro range of similar tech super-halo models.

 

[SCOTT27]

First the Audi guy and now this one. It's very very interesting and clearly indicates that M will also consider more AWD offerings, plus a hybrid - a la LaFerrari - system.

Yes it has already been decided to offer the next generation M5 and M6 with additional xDrive but as stated before the customer would have to have the necessary weight application that goes with it. But both will be available with RWD so the customer can take advantage of the serious weight loss that will be offered with the next generation cars.
I highly doubt they will put xDrive in the M2 , M3 or M4 I just don't see it in those cars.

In all it points to an exciting new beginning especially when one was a key principal of the Audi R8 project and another comes from the pinnacle of sports car engineering. When you combine this with BMWs ability to produce and apply CFRP and you have the potential for something not only long awaited but potentially outstanding.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

Just me thinking out loud, but would an AWD system like the one found in the FF be more apropos for the upcoming M5 and M6 versus BMW's current Xdrive system?

 

[Giannis]

I wonder if @EnI has any comment on this.

 

[chonkoa]

Considering how exciting the recent M cars have been, I think it makes you wonder about the technical depth/compass of the "M" division. Of lately "M" has morphed from "Motor" to "Marketing".

 

[bum-man]

Just me thinking out loud, but would an AWD system like the one found in the FF be more apropos for the upcoming M5 and M6 versus BMW's current Xdrive system?

Not if they're trying to bring down costs...

 

[KiwiRob]

I just wonder how an Italian is going to play with the Germans, they have very different work culture's, it's interesting watching how the Norwegian company I work for engineers interact with our Germany subsidary company's engineers.