New BMW M division boss confirms no M7
07-14-09 | 10:19 PM
#1
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New BMW M division boss confirms no M7
July 14, 2009
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New BMW M division boss confirms no M7
U.S. market is crucial for BMW's performance division
M is for meaning. As in, BMW doesn't just stiffen the chassis, pump up the volume on the horsepower and slap an M badge on a standard production car.
Kay Segler took over at the helm of BMW's performance division back in May. In an interview with Automotive News, Segler, 54, says he's confident that the upcoming X5 M and X6 M models will sell well, despite a very depressed automobile market.
But Segler says the Bavarian brand has axed any plans for an M7 model, claiming the all-wheel drive 760 does enough to fulfill the market.
Segler was moved into the position as head of BMW's M division after having managed the automaker's Mini brand for 5 years. In the interview, he addresses the issue of falling sales and the importance of the U.S. market for the M division. U.S. Sales for the M division were 9,738 out of a total of 24,186 M vehicles sold around the world by BMW in 2008. But sales for the first half of 2009 were just under 3,000 units in the United States.
He also described the essence of what he believes an M model is.
"We don't just give it more horsepower and make the chassis a little stiffer. If you look at the M3, it's on the upper limit of how much we change. 75 to 80 percent is modified."
The X5 and X6 M models go on sale in the U.S. on September 7.
U.S. market is crucial for BMW's performance division
M is for meaning. As in, BMW doesn't just stiffen the chassis, pump up the volume on the horsepower and slap an M badge on a standard production car.
Kay Segler took over at the helm of BMW's performance division back in May. In an interview with Automotive News, Segler, 54, says he's confident that the upcoming X5 M and X6 M models will sell well, despite a very depressed automobile market.
But Segler says the Bavarian brand has axed any plans for an M7 model, claiming the all-wheel drive 760 does enough to fulfill the market.
Segler was moved into the position as head of BMW's M division after having managed the automaker's Mini brand for 5 years. In the interview, he addresses the issue of falling sales and the importance of the U.S. market for the M division. U.S. Sales for the M division were 9,738 out of a total of 24,186 M vehicles sold around the world by BMW in 2008. But sales for the first half of 2009 were just under 3,000 units in the United States.
He also described the essence of what he believes an M model is.
"We don't just give it more horsepower and make the chassis a little stiffer. If you look at the M3, it's on the upper limit of how much we change. 75 to 80 percent is modified."
The X5 and X6 M models go on sale in the U.S. on September 7.
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07-15-09 | 04:38 AM
#9
The Alpina is now available in the states finally!! Here is a pic of a fresh off the boat Alpina B7..
07-15-09 | 07:44 AM
#11
They're actually not a skunk works project. They're a separate tuner company (much like RUF) where they sell their own tuned BMW cars as Alpinas. They however have a deal with BMW that their cars are covered under warranty and can be serviced under BMW dealerships.
07-15-09 | 08:11 AM
#12
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Alpina is skunk works shop under the BMW umbrella just like the M division. It is not an aftermarket company like Tension, Hartge, et.al. I've driven the last gen B7 at last year. Trust me, there is no need for an M7
The Alpina is now available in the states finally!! Here is a pic of a fresh off the boat Alpina B7..
The Alpina is now available in the states finally!! Here is a pic of a fresh off the boat Alpina B7..
2- What's the excuse for the X5/X6 then?
07-15-09 | 11:52 AM
#13
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpina
They're actually not a skunk works project. They're a separate tuner company (much like RUF) where they sell their own tuned BMW cars as Alpinas. They however have a deal with BMW that their cars are covered under warranty and can be serviced under BMW dealerships.
They're actually not a skunk works project. They're a separate tuner company (much like RUF) where they sell their own tuned BMW cars as Alpinas. They however have a deal with BMW that their cars are covered under warranty and can be serviced under BMW dealerships.
talk about B7. when i was at bmw dealership few weeks ago, there was a B7 and the owner happened to sit with the SA beside me. his list of problems to-be-fixed was so long it took i think 10 or 11 pages of printout.
impressive. even the owner was smiling (in a bad way)
07-15-09 | 12:14 PM
#15
As for the references to not wanting to challenge the S63/65 AMG...I doubt that being the case. While the S AMG is a wonderful car, BMW could easily create something to rival it if they wanted to. I understand that between the Alpina B7 and 760Li they think they have the market covered, but there is still a niche for an M7 IMO. M styling cues, transmissions, and overall character is not currently offered in the full size sedan segment. The B7 is fast but also uber-luxurious. They could have something unique if the M7 had CF or Aluminum accents on the interior, like other M products.