LIVE from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show! Full BMW coverage inside!

[Mr Robert]

Anyhoo, waaay OT but here's hoping that the M Division hear your calls for an M1 CSL. I just hope the turbo engine doesn't go into limp mode halfway through a big oversteer moment.

I guess that is one of the major problems they will have to sort out.

BMW has chosen the turbo route due to the fact that sub 5-series cars need really small turbo engines to cut consumption on paper and I guess they will have to go that route all the way to win back some R&D.

Porsche has clearly shown that turbos are not needed.

 

[klier]

Nee, maar dit is nou uiters netjies en vinnig! [I don't know Dutch so you'll have to excuse the Afrikaans.]

Netjies = tidy?
Vinnig = ?

Either way, your Dutch rocks!!!

 

[martinbo]

^ vinnig = fast

Netjies is spot on. Thanks klier...

 

[klier]

It's amazing to see someone from the other side of the world write fluently in Dutch. Seriously, amazing.

Porsche has clearly shown that turbos are not needed.

No, not a a supercar from which they are going to sell 10 a year, and costing euro 500,000 minimum.
On regular production cars it's very much needed. And compared to a 918 Spyder supercar, an M1 is a common production car.

 

[PanterroR]

Online translators FTW!

j/k...

 

[martinbo]

Ag thanks man klier but don't get your hopes up. Fluency rapidly disappears when anything but the simplest of sentences are constructed. Apparently Afrikaans is only about 70% true to proper Dutch. But, if you heard me speaking it, you'd definitely understand what I was saying. You'd probably get the gist of this:

Ek hou nie van hierdie nuwe BMWs... Hulle's vet en stadig en die turbos is nie te my smaak nie.

But I doubt its fluency in Dutch.

Sheesh talk about ruining a thread... sorry all.

 

[south]

Does this M3 has better brakes?
Is it lighter?
Can you order race style seats?

Does this M3 replace the M3 GTS?


Best regards,
south

 

[Mr Robert]

No, not a a supercar from which they are going to sell 10 a year, and costing euro 500,000 minimum.
On regular production cars it's very much needed. And compared to a 918 Spyder supercar, an M1 is a common production car.

There are really only gains to be had in really small engines and turbos drink a lot of fuel IRL.

 

[klier]

Ek hou nie van hierdie nuwe BMWs... Hulle's vet en stadig en die turbos is nie te my smaak nie.

Freaking amazing :O
Of course I understand! It's a bit like 18th century Dutch or something, but very easy to understand. Brilliant.

 

[south]

Sheesh talk about ruining a thread... sorry all.

You do that a lot lately, don't you?


Best regards,
south

 

[martinbo]

Haayy - c'mon now - cut the supermofoglobalsuperpowerhasbeencouldn'tgiveasnotmoderator some slack already please.

We're talking about Bimmers in Geneva. In Dutch. Sort of.

Right, back on topic troops. So, Bimmers in Geneva y'all say...? Will the M1 Concept be there?

[Ducks petrol bombs, grenades, ninja stars and soggy prophylactics.]

 

[south]

Haayy - c'mon now - cut the supermofoglobalsuperpowerhasbeencouldn'tgiveasnotmoderator some slack already please.

I meant to say 'Sure!' until I saw this:

So, Bimmers in Geneva y'all say...? Will the M1 Concept be there?

[Ducks petrol bombs, grenades, ninja stars and soggy prophylactics.]

Best regards,
south

 

[bmwblog]

No one talked about the M1 there, and I mean nobody! Still a big secret and everyone avoids the subject. The overall impression is that there will be a model (as seen in the spy photos), but I'm not so sure it will carry the M1 badge.

I think we'll find out more this summer.

Everyone seems to be excited about the new X3 and especially the 5 Series, the "core of the brand" as the 5 Series designer called it.

Also, expect to see a lot of layering design from BMW in the future, they are looking to be leaders in that aspect also. We'll share more in the next few days through our several interviews we conducted there.

Oh and we met Chris Bangle...

 

[AdvEvo]

Most people who are on Forums are not interested in big lumpy boring 5 serie and x3 people carriers.

We are enthusiasts rather have more info about porsche GT3, M1, M3 GTS etc is more welcome.

 

[PanterroR]

Most people who are on Forums are not interested in big lumpy boring 5 serie and x3 people carriers.

We are enthusiasts rather have more info about porsche GT3, M1, M3 GTS etc is more welcome.

While i really have a respect for you, i disagree 300% with your opinion here. Most people not interested in 5 series or even that ugly X3? Gee, maybe about X3 you're right, but about 5 series you're wrong, very wrong...

 

[Potential]

I'm with P on this. I consider myself a slight enthusiast, but I consider the 5 Series to be a far more - and important - model compared to the exotics, because they're the models I'd consider purchasing. I'm not overtly interested in something that I have no use for i.e. a 300Km/hr exotic when Australia's highway speed limit is 110Km/Hr.

I also believe that many, many members here are just as interested in the 5 Series as they are in the more exotic models. Evidence enough of this is the sheer size of the E Class and 5 Series spyshot and information threads, 100s and 100s of posts before a car is even released, compared the to Porsche 997 thread, which is quite small in comparison.

 

[AdvEvo]

I have driven most of the bmw series.

I can t find a reason to buy a big heavy bmw instead of cheaper alternatives.

I prefer rwd because it s more fun in cornering. But anything above a 3 series isn t sporty any more and you don t go hooligan with a 5 series either.

A 5 and 7 series and x3 and x5 i would not never pay premium for. It s for status buyers. If i would buy a daily drive or a people carrier i would buy a VW or other cheaper brand. It s cheaper and brings you everywhere too. I am a big bmw fan. I am willing to spend lots on money on cars. But only if they deliver driving fun. Otherwise if it s a daily drive. i rather buy secondhand or different cheaper brand.

 

[PanterroR]

I have driven every single BMW on the market except X1.

I'm a business man, i make cca 50,000 km kilometers per year to which 30% goes for private stuff and rest for business trips. I need powerful, comfortable, good handling and safe car - luxury meets sportiness, hence why BMW 5 series is my choice for last 11 years.

Moreover, after 3 series, the BMW 5 series is most important car for BMW so saying that people (even on forums) don't care for "big, lumpy and boring" 5 series makes no sens to me, no offense.

If you didn't mention 5 series, but only X3 in that context i'd understand, but with all due respect ADV, there are millions more interested in that type of car than in some track eating mofo from M division.

 

[martinbo]

At some point in time Mr. de Vries you'll realise that different people have different needs around motoring and that you sit on the extreme end of the scale when it comes to your need for a high-performance car. On the opposite end of this spectrum sit people who only want status, excess and luxury in extremis. Some of them actually frequent such a forum.

However, in between this vast polarity sits the general car buyer en mass. This is the consumer who's not hardcore nor are they hell-bent on making a statement at the country club. They're looking for a good balance - a good overall value proposition that blends several attributes on opposite ends of the scale to achieve a middle ground compromise. A fair dose of luxury, a good measure of sporting performance and, hey presto: BMW 5 series. Sure, it's not an M3 CSL but it has dynamic limits that are so high as to be more than enough for even a spirited driver for on-road use.

Middle-ground, best-of-both-worlds, compromise, all-rounder, versatility - all of these attributes are mutually exclusive with the cars that turn you on AdvEvo and yet, in this day and age are the most sought after by the largest majority of buyers.

Hence, when all the fuss 'n dust around a vapourised M1 and a ballsy hybrid supercar has died down, it'll be clear to see that the BMW 5 Series is the most significant car launched at Geneva this year. Hence, in my opinion, a very clever move on BMW's part to keep it in the limelight without any unwanted distractions.

Who gives a sh!t whether BMW CM said it was going to be there or not. The outcome, regardless, is the logical and correct one for this car maker. And, on top of that, BMW actually did keep most of the internet whingers happy with the showing of the M3 CP which looks fantastic. It's only the most extreme proponents of performance motoring (i.e. on that end of the scale) such as yourself that remain disappointed.

Be assured, I'm not condemning you in any way at all - I empathise with your point-of-view - but please realise that you and your ilk represent the absolute, and often, unprofitable minority.

 

[Human]

Interesting read my fellow countryman, with an excellent choice of words and a vocabulary bar-none! In other words a true moderator, respect!

Though I myself bare with Tycoon on this one