It would seem that BMW’s M division is in a constant tug of war with the two other high performance divisions of their nearest competitors, that being Mercedes-AMG and Audi Sport (formerly known as quattro GmbH).
Typically, each car within that certain size class will, like clockwork, duke it out upon their near synchronous launch periods, with the generational victor taking the top prize. But at no other time has the market been so saturated with such high quality choices for the premium high performance connoisseurs.
By its own hand, neither the Mercedes-AMG C63, BMW M3, or Audi RS4 can be split apart as being the donkey in a three-horse race, which is probably why, as Autocar is reporting, BMW is about to depart from this norm and flood the market with M cars.
When we say ‘flood’, we mean to say 26 different vehicles are being schedule for launch by 2020 - a serious number reinforcing an ambitious expansion endeavour. However, it might lose its lustre after it’s learned that the definition of ‘M car’ is used loosely here by the sources tapped by the UK publication.
To break that figure down, the number of full-fledged M-branded models (such as M2, M3, M4, and M5) will amount to 11 while the bulk of that falls into the ‘M-Performance’ category of the 15 cars. While it seems a little messy as an onlooker, we do wonder how BMW plans to retain any exclusivity with the brand being spread this thinly.
After all, any BMW model has had an M-Sport somewhere in its range, with most including alterations deeper than merely cosmetic. Often there are suspension changes, anti-roll bars, improved aerodynamics, limited-slip differentials, better tyres, quicker steering, and lighter wheels.
It’s a strategy that has served BMW well, but we doubt that’s will count against these 26 cars to roll out of the M division. To truly be worth their salt in the eyes of the enthusiast tendencies that BMW loves to nurture, they have to bring a lot more to the table.
Leading the charge for the 2020 expansion is the all-new M3, hewn from the upcoming G20 3 Series that’s due to be presented next year, the next car to be built using the company’s new CLAR platform, possibly using the carbon fibre core structure first seen on the 7 Series. It’s likely that BMW will be more brazen, encouraged by the success of its iPerformance range of PHEV variants, to introduce a hybrid M3 next time around.
The current model’s 3.0-litre S55 twin-turbo straight-six will be carried over for the most part, save for some choice improvements, but supplemented by a more tightly integration electrification component: a better packaged lithium-ion battery bank, and an electric motor mounted between the engine and transmission.
To facilitate this, BMW will continue its campaign to unify all transmissions under the ZF 8HP 8-speed automatic that’s already prevalent in many models, most recently unseating the dual-clutch unit in the F90 M5. As a result, the next M3 will be more powerful than the current car while being more fuel efficient and easier to drive in town.
Apart from the current crop of M saloon cars and coupes, even all-new models such as the Z4 and M8, the division’s death blow surrounds its plans to inject more high performance options to their SUV offerings. There is an all-new X3 that’s just waiting to be given the M treatment, and the same can be said about the newly unveiled X2, not to mention the somewhat overdue X5 and its hot variant.
On this topic, Frank Van Meel, the former Audi veteran now leading BMW’s high performance division, told Autocar: “BMW itself has significantly more models than BMW M. But we are looking at where we can expand our programme in the future. There is huge potential for growth,"
"We are looking at all BMW models to see if we can make an M or M-Performance model out of them, although there must be sufficiently large customer demand before we commit. With M-Performance, we can reach buyers not possible with classic M models.”
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