German Car Zone

I can understand some of the arguments about cars having to make profit and so on, so I can understand why there is no M7 for instance... Alpina already offers the B7 so that just wouldn't work. The Z4-M I can understand too specially when the new one will be built in Europe. But what I can not understand is why they are cutting the M3CSL.... . This is a limited production car, and if you make about 150 pieces you WILL sell all of them. And no matter how much it costs they will all be sold, so why not make sure you can earn the money you've put into it and you will have a break even project financially. But when you talk about marketing the M3CSL is what BMW stands for... a race car for the open road kicking some AMG and RS butt. That is also something BMW fans adore, even the ones driving a simple 116 or 318 that's something BMW CEO's have to take into account as well.
So please build the CSL!!!!!!!!

Interesting thread.

The news presented (if it proves to be true) isn't good for the so called "pure" BMW "M" brand and the usual corporate-tied excuse makers spin, spin and spin to come up with a justification for cutting a car like the Z4 M, yet all the while trying to justify making an M vehicle out of a SUV like the X5 or X6. Amazing. Mass Schizophrenia.

There is nothing, not a damn thing any BMW insider can say to convince me that a car like a X5 M is more M-like than the Z4 M. A proper and perfect "business case" is for the regular BMWs, not M cars. Sure every BMW product must make money, but part of being an enthusiast-tilted company is occasionally making a thinner profit on certain cars to justify their being, the Z4 M is such a car. If BMW can't make money on such a car while Mercedes and Porsche does then something is wrong at BMW. How can such a company touted as being so brilliant, especially with the running of the company's finances be set back by something as simple as importing a car to the U.S. for a profit? Hogwash.

Anyway, I really don't believe BMW is going to let AMG SLK, RS TT and Boxster/Cayman market go unchallenged from the new Z4. I'd also bet that there will be a M version. In fact BMW said the same exact thing about the current Z4, that there would be no M version and then poof look what happened. The Z4 Coupe of course is dead since the new roadster will have a hardtop anyway, that makes perfect sense.

BMW is slowly but surely becoming the same thing many MB detractors have said about Mercedes-Benz, unfocused and trying to appeal to everyone. A BMW in every garage.

The writing is on the wall when a 4000lb M3 convertible is wheeled out.


M

100% agree!

True...And to think the M3 was a homologation version of a race car

Don't know about M badge on X5 & X6 but they do need competition to Cayenne and ML 63.

If any of this is true, then I think BMW does not stand for what i seek in a car anymore.

"Ultimate driving machine" - my ass, more like the "ultimate soccermom ride" if you ask me. For a driving enthusiast like myself the type of car set in focus by BMW AG in this article represents a form of materialised "giving up". You know, the type of car one gets when it is time to give up all forms of unpractical, "just-for-the-fun-of-it"-cars and get yourself a people mover, or not even a people mover, something like a cramped minivan Renault Scenic.

Why on earth would BMW want to make their own Mercedes? For the love of God, who in their right mind would focus developement on trucks in days like this? Weight savings, anyone? World savings, everyone! Is this the last M3? Will BMW only produce a X3M (God, I would hate that car) for the next generation? Who knows!

Maybe it's a sign when my favourite BMW is the 135i.

BMW = Sheer Driving Pleasure, Freude am Fahren ...

Ultimate Driving Machine? Never has been, IMHO.

Porsche, anyone?


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BMW is all about sporty cars ... Sportier than the competitors (eg. MB, Lexus, Jaguar, Audi, Cadillac, Infiniti etc) ... Nothing more.

Well, I think he wanted to say BMW won't be even that in the future, especially with cars like X6M, and I agree on that.

Sport cars are in their definition light, powerful etc. But companies today are producing heavier and heavier cars which is disappointing fact, I'm not refering only to BMW..

Yet another contradicition and betrayal. Though quite honestly, I've felt this way about the BMW brand for a long while. Actually, the day thechopped the E39, and cut the Z8 out of production (amongst others) for favour of current generation models, I was no longer a fan. I realize that things must change, but still can't help (and never will stop) but feel betrayed by the way things went for what used to be my favourite brand (yes, I used to have a great affection for BMW's). I really couldn't care any less for what they've done in recent years.

This news is quite laughable. Yes to 5000lbs M-Powered SUV's , but no to Z4M and M3 CSL? So much for philosophy.

Of course, BMW isn't the only brand gulity of garbage like this. I can't believe how terrible the auto industry has become. Part of the reason I'm no where as active on this forum anymore is because I couldn't be bothered to involve myself in all of this new age industry bullshit. All of these gimmicks, these supposedly 'amazing' vehicles. New supercars every 6 months because their shelf life is limited; their meant to be disposable the day they come out. 600bhp saloon cars...

Screw it. Long live cars of the past.

Porsche introducing an SUV, a sub-911 coupe, a 4dr coupe-sedan, introducing diesel engine ...

Ferrari developing AWD system, thinking of offering a hybrid.

BMW offering an M-version of SUV etc.

Times are changing.

Mind BMW break core values all over again - when product strategy is in question. Mind the iconic product that make BMW so famous has been a 2dr sedan 1600/1800/2002. All the other products: 4dr sedans, larger sedans large coupes, etc. were a "betrayal" of core values of the brand - since the modern BMW is all about 2dr sedan (= 1er coupe).

Same case with M ... Any other M car than original M3 (street legal race car) or a supercar like M1 are completely against M values.

BMW brand is so strong right now they afford "flops" like controversial designs, unreliable systems / electronics, various odd cross-overs, M labeled SUVs etc.


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Car business is all about selling cars, not running the fan club.

The enthusiasts will get treats like "tii" models: kind a factory tuning. Just like M ... but I guess M is now a trademark that can bare more than just sports cars - if markets demand so.

And forget the light original M3 ... Today cars are heavy as pigs: comfort, convenience & safety features bring weight. Aluminum is expensive, CF even more.


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To revive BMW brand as ultimately sporty, BMW will bring a supercoupe ... it will. But it won't come cheap. It won't be in R8 leage - it will be positioned much higher. And will be quite revolutionary.

But before BMW need to bring a new flagship. Then another car beyond new 8er price tag will be possible. And also: first the F1 success must come, then the supercoupe.