Rumor: BMW's Sustainable Sports Car Concept coming to Frankfurt '09

[Sunny]

But there were ideas already then - and X5 LM was a Concept showing how the car could look like. It has an agenda - not just being some Hommage / Celebration Concept.

Sorry, I don't buy that.

when X5 Lemans existed, those were the times whan BMW said "We will never build M SUV" - "never a turbocharged M" - LoL what a big mouth.

I have dumped chicks to who I proclaimed "I will never stop loving them" and have the same done to me. Time and circumstances change, get on with it.

 

[Mr Robert]

Guys, let's see what the study brings. The sound from that video, just like Artist says, is very strange... it would be great if BMW showed us something new and sporty as there has been mostly high weight, high consuming vehicles as of lately, with the obvious and welcome exceptions of the ED edition 320d and the smaller engined 1-series coupe.

 

[klier]

Yea, screw it, if it is just another futuristic concept that won't see production.

Sadly, that's the way I am feeling too, no matter how cool this car might be.

 

[EnI]

when X5 Lemans existed, those were the times whan BMW said "We will never build M SUV" - "never a turbocharged M" - LoL what a big mouth.

That was the old M GmbH CEO, and the old BMW AG BoD.

Really: times have changed. Nobody expected the emissions regulation would be changed so drastically in such short time. Therefore all the turbo-mania right now ... Developing an NA engine (without any standard engine base) just for M would be too costly - unless following the AMG formula: using one engine across the whole line - which is not something M want to do.

Regarding X5M E53 ... perhaps there would not be M badge on a car, but perhaps like X5 GTR etc ... So, saying something can have 100 different meanings.

Yet mind "Number ONE" operation is much more business oriented ... so profitability comes first. Meaning: if there is enough demand for a car which can be sold with a huge profit margin - they will build it. And X5M / X6M was such a car.

And they decided to do so since Porsche didn't suffer any image damage due to Cayenne, and due to market pressures ...

Yes, they are market pressures also in some other segments - eg. large roadster, M1, R8-fighter etc - but right now the company sees no right time to launch such cars (not enough demand for car to meet the desired profitability).

So, some BMW customers will have to wait ... Some other demands & tastes are catered now ... It can't be done all at once.

 

[Mr Robert]

One engine over the whole range not an option? I will not be at all surprized if that happens...

Oh, well, now that the drive towards efficient and light cars is delayed, BMW needs to speed up the process a bit.

 

[klier]

^ BMW already has one engine for the whole range: the 3.0 I6 is featured in every model (X1 2.8i is a 3.0 right?)..

 

[Mr Robert]

^ BMW already has one engine for the whole range: the 3.0 I6 is featured in every model (X1 2.8i is a 3.0 right?)..

Haha, but still not in every M car... but that day will come, when the 5-series again is the largest M car... (If you want to count the X5"M" and X6"M" as real M cars).

 

[klier]

LOL, but I don't think the M5 and M3 will ever have the same engine?
M5 might move from V10 to V8, but if that really happens be sure that the next M3 will have a I6 (V6??? ) again! And the next gen 1er based M model an I4

 

[Mr Robert]

Maybe.... but then again, they might even build an NA engine from an existing FI one, less special but still NA. Right about now, I will not be surprized about much when it comes to BMW, everything goes!

 

[klier]

Everything goes! True! Other than Hofmeister kink, L-shape backlights, kidney grille, I6 engines, RWD and quad Angel Eyes, everything goes

 

[Mr Robert]

Everything goes! True! Other than Hofmeister kink, L-shape backlights, kidney grille and quad Angel Eyes, everything goes

Fixed that for you...

 

[klier]

Aaaaah, cute

Those two are the most important

 

[Zafiro]

One engine over the whole range not an option? I will not be at all surprized if that happens...

Havent it already happen? The engine in X6M is pretty much a tuned XDrive50 engine. Next M5 better dont get this engine too.... or else.

 

[south]

Next M5 better dont get this engine too.... or else.

You still believe in the V10 miracle?


Best regards,
south

 

[Zafiro]

You still believe in the V10 miracle?


Best regards,
south

I dont know but I still hope its going to be a completly new engine from the scratch. I know M are a AMG wannabe these days but why make it so obvious

 

[AdvEvo]

I get more and more the idea that bmw and bmw ///M get away from there motorsport heritage. That s the only reason for me i buy bmw cars.

If you look at trackdays overhere it s 90% bmw. But i quess the future will be different and other brands will take over. The track enthusiast need to find an other brand.

 

[Zafiro]

If you look at trackdays overhere it s 90% bmw. But i quess the future will be different and other brands will take over. The track enthusiast need to find an other brand.

the question is what brand?
Do I really need to buy a car that cost twice as much as M3 to get a good NA engine?

 

[Mr Robert]

I get more and more the idea that bmw and bmw ///M get away from there motorsport heritage. That s the only reason for me i buy bmw cars.

If you look at trackdays overhere it s 90% bmw. But i quess the future will be different and other brands will take over. The track enthusiast need to find an other brand.

Porsche being the natural step when BMW no longer provides the means. On the other hand, the current cars will do for another 5-10 years for those of us on a budget...

 

[NarutoRamen]

And the next gen 1er based M model an I4

If the next 1er coupe gets a M-tuned I4, that would be bonkers. I can just imagine getting a 1er, stripping everything off, change body panels with CF and turning it into a track attack machine. Oh, I can dream can't I?

You still believe in the V10 miracle?

Best regards,
south

We can still hope and pray can't we? LOL

If you look at trackdays overhere it s 90% bmw. But i quess the future will be different and other brands will take over. The track enthusiast need to find an other brand.

Track days out here are ruled by Porsche and then second in line is probably either BMW or STi/Evo cars.

 

[EnI]

I get more and more the idea that bmw and bmw ///M get away from there motorsport heritage. That s the only reason for me i buy bmw cars.

If you look at trackdays overhere it s 90% bmw. But i quess the future will be different and other brands will take over. The track enthusiast need to find an other brand.

CM talking ...


Not at all. Perhaps in the transitional period ...

Since most of you are still thinking in today's mind sets. Tomorrow there will be no "petrol sports" anymore. Motorsports will be taken to a complete different level. And the history will begin to be written from the start - again.

Imagine horse races vs. motorsport race. Almost the same revolution.

what am I talking about? Hybrid, electric, hydrogen etc.

In the next few years the motorsport rules (at least the one under FIA) will change A LOT. Sustainability & eco aspects will be push into the front line. Everybody knows that.

And why only BMW are already starting to shift?

a) because they decided to scarify a bit of today for better tomorrow

b) to be ready when the new race begins, and take advantage of their steadiness

c) since BMW AG is relatively small company compared to eg. Toyota, VW etc they need more time to change (R&D costs have to be distributed over the more years than in some larger company with much larger revenues).


BMW are very aware of their motorsport heritage - and will be back there full power when ready again: with new tech, new cars, and being competitive again. Of course also the production series cars will follow that formula - some niche übersporty models.

But right now the tech is not ready, nor are the new motorsport rules. So, it's hard to compete under the ever-changing rules, in the times tech is changing every year.

With a downfall of reign of ICE (NA) engines, and the rise of the hybrid, electric & hydrogen etc tech BMW will strike again.

Therefore ... yes ... right now the bet all the money on the sustainability. And when the new philosophy will kick in completely, also the motorsport will follow ... And then expect some interesting sustainable sports cars from BMW - incl. racing ones.

In the meantime ... I don't know .. .either you wait, buy a used old BMW, or switch to MB / Audi for a while ...

Since in the next couple of years there isn't anything "hardcore motorsporty" coming from BMW.


Yet the Vision ED will give you a hint where the company is heading ...