BMW M Wants Project One Rival; Needs Upper Management Approval

[A.P.]

Wow! That X8M must be juiced up if it is going to be an AMG One rival!

 

[manuelf]

Exactly!! Current BMW-M boss even gave a subtle hint at this when @bmwblog interviewed him about 2 months ago & he said concerning a stand-alone M car that “they were going in a different direction”.

In my book this would be no "standalone M car" then.
If a X8M becomes reality I bet, it has a common base with X5/X7!
"Standalone" would mean something like AMGs GT. This is an exclusive AMG platform.
The only thing, which M would have exclusive then, would be the name/badge "X8".

 

[SKY]

@bmwblog so basically, if I understand what you guys are saying right, the stand alone BMW M cars will be firstly the X8M, which will only be available with M engines (to compete with the likes of the Lambo Urus?) and then the BMW M, which will be the production version of the M Next, right?

 

[advantage20]

It would seem pretty weird to only be launching the X8 in M guise, when it might spawn a whole range (luxury version, M Performance version, M version) covering a wider demand spectrum, and when there will pretty much already be a slightly smaller and still very capable version of the X8M available (the X6M)...

As regards the standalone M supercar that might result out of the M Next Concept, it seems very plausible to me that it will be named M10:
- Still 'M + number' name, just like all preexisting M models
- Logically a higher number than the currently top of the lineup M model (the M8)
- Though not M9, as there is no 9 Series to be based upon, so it makes more sense to just skip over to 10, which would indeed break the naming tradition (no more 'M + single digit' name) to mark the quality leap (it's not just an M version of a regular model but a standalone model) but still maintain an 'M + number' name and still send a nod to the spiritual predecessor, the M1, since 'M1' is contained in 'M10'

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

"Standalone" would mean something like AMGs GT. This is an exclusive AMG platform.

But the AMG GT 4 door is also a stand alone AMG model despite the fact that it is based on the platform of the E class T model

 

[klier]

But the AMG GT 4 door is also a stand alone AMG model despite the fact that it is based on the platform of the E class T model

So that's not a standalone model.

Because if the AMG GT sedan is, BMW has had standalone M cars for decades. AMG sedan is a modded taxi, and AMG GT coupe is a standalone car.

@bmwblog so basically, if I understand what you guys are saying right, the stand alone BMW M cars will be firstly the X8M, which will only be available with M engines (to compete with the likes of the Lambo Urus?) and then the BMW M, which will be the production version of the M Next, right?

If they make an X8, it will be based on the X5. So that's per definition not a standalone vehicle. In fact, it would be the most milked model in the entire line-up together with the 3er range; X5, X6, X7 and X8 would all be the same.

Really guys, this is no rocket science.
The only car BMW has shown right now that could potentially be a standalone M car is the Vision M next. The rest all is based on 'mundane' CLAR architecture.

 

[advantage20]

Standalone primarily means a new body that isn't based on a regular series model, even if a large part of the underpinnings and of the interior aren't brand new but simply reconfigured from existing elements. An AMG E63 isn't standalone, the AMG GT 4 door is standalone.

 

[klier]

Standalone primarily means a new body that isn't based on a regular series model, even if a large part of the underpinnings and of the interior aren't brand new but simply reconfigured from existing elements. An AMG E63 isn't standalone, the AMG GT 4 door is standalone.

Yeah.....no

An AMG GT 4 door is not a standalone car at all. It's an E class with a different shell. The interior design has nothing whatsoever to do with that. It's a technical/underpinnings thing. Not visual.

 

[klier]

@bmwblog so basically, if I understand what you guys are saying right, the stand alone BMW M cars will be firstly the X8M, which will only be available with M engines (to compete with the likes of the Lambo Urus?) and then the BMW M, which will be the production version of the M Next, right?

Not directed at you, but this sounds just ridiculous thinking a bit more of it!

Why would BMW even need an X8 to compete with the Urus?
Isn't the X6 M capable enough?
Isn't the Urus just a modded VAG platform found on all their SUV cars? From Touareg to Bentayga?
Isn't that a proper competitor to the X5 platform?
Wouldn't an X8 yet be another version of the X5, just like the X6 and X7?
Wouldn't an X8 technically just be an overpriced X6 with different bodyshell?

Damn!!!!!!

We're discussing a standalone M car and end up with an X8, the polar opposite of a standalone M car.

I need some rest now.

 

[advantage20]

Yeah.....no

An AMG GT 4 door is not a standalone car at all. It's an E class with a different shell. The interior design has nothing whatsoever to do with that. It's a technical/underpinnings thing. Not visual.

So if the platform/engine/chassis are the only valid criteria for a standalone model, not the body or the interior, then the Urus for instance is not a standalone model from the Bentayga, the Cayenne or the Touareg for that matter, right?

A car model is a sum of elements, of which the technical underpinnings on the one hand and the exterior/interior design on the other hand are complementary and cannot exist without one another. Seeing the lengths to which manufacturers need to go to make savings with a common bumper here, a common dashboard there, it is pretty clear that a model which comes with a fully specific body, a fairly new interior, unique chassis elements and finetuning, an overall effort to infuse it with the design language, the iconic materials, the spirit substantial to a given sub-brand universe (AMG, M, now Cupra...) can definitely be deemed as being a standalone model.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

So that's not a standalone model.

Because if the AMG GT sedan is, BMW has had standalone M cars for decades. AMG sedan is a modded taxi, and AMG GT coupe is a standalone car.



If they make an X8, it will be based on the X5. So that's per definition not a standalone vehicle. In fact, it would be the most milked model in the entire line-up together with th...

Are the 5er and 7er standalone models then?

 

[klier]

Are the 5er and 7er standalone models then?

Not anymore obviously. But I don’t have to tell you anything about modular platforms of course.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

Not anymore obviously. But I don’t have to tell you anything about modular platforms of course.

Why anymore? The E34 was derived from the E32 and so were the following generations.

 

[klier]

Yeah sure but the platforms were much more distinct right?
Anyways, guess nothing really is standalone then. Hope M manages to secure production for a real standalone platform like the i8, i3 and new Vision M next.

 

[bmwblog]

@bmwblog so basically, if I understand what you guys are saying right, the stand alone BMW M cars will be firstly the X8M, which will only be available with M engines (to compete with the likes of the Lambo Urus?) and then the BMW M, which will be the production version of the M Next, right?

That's what we heard. Doubt it there will be something else between now and 2022-2023

 

[bmwblog]

Not directed at you, but this sounds just ridiculous thinking a bit more of it!

Why would BMW even need an X8 to compete with the Urus?
Isn't the X6 M capable enough?
Isn't the Urus just a modded VAG platform found on all their SUV cars? From Touareg to Bentayga?
Isn't that a proper competitor to the X5 platform?
Wouldn't an X8 yet be another version of th...

No, the X8 is rumored to have a distinctive design, not a derivation of X6 or X7.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

Reading the last two pages, this thread took a dark turn. Depressing.

 

[klier]

Reading the last two pages, this thread took a dark turn. Depressing.

What do you mean my friend?

No, the X8 is rumored to have a distinctive design, not a derivation of X6 or X7.

X6 and X7 both have a distinctive design compared to the X5. That's not the problem.

 

[EnI]

@bmwblog so basically, if I understand what you guys are saying right, the stand alone BMW M cars will be firstly the X8M, which will only be available with M engines (to compete with the likes of the Lambo Urus?) and then the BMW M, which will be the production version of the M Next, right?

Currently 3 models are considered to be exclusively developed by M GmbH,and are planned to be introduced in the following order:


X8M SAC - there will be no "normal" X8 ... there will be M models only, all developed & DESIGNED by M ... and will look more like iNext / X2 than X6 or X4

M Coupe - 2+2 sports coupe as true successor to i8 Coupe but exclusively in M iteration, based on M next

M8 (GranCoupe) Mk2 - M developed & designed ultra-performance ultra-luxury sports sedan / gran coupe



Stand-alone M models will be more about sportsluxury performance than supercar performance.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

What do you mean my friend?

THe prospect of an X model being the first dedicated ///M car....that just feels so wrong. So wrong. Disturbing times.