German Car Zone

This is Dr Kay Segler’s challenge, since taking on the role of President of BMW M GmbH earlier this year. His life will not be simple as he contends with the expectations of the many M-car traditionalists who fear the future means massive 4×4s, turbocharging and automatic transmissions.


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This is not very comforting.

But I guess we all knew that 2008 was the last year of the M as we knew it.

Look, the future is electric-petrol-or-diesel-hybrid - and after that full-electric car.

Meaning: small turbocharged engines (even diesels) combined with usually one electro motor per axle, or even one per wheel - meaning 4WD, and transmission in such case can be only automatic to handle hybrid 4WD drive etc.

There's no other alternative.

Any other solution would be inferior.


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In the meantime I'm afraid BMW can shift to V6 engines - since turbo packaging & engineering will be much easier in V-configuration in the case of 6-cyl engines.

Sorry.

I-engines, manual transmissions & NA IC engines are doomed.


I was telling you dogma isn't OK - since BMW & M aren't about certain tech.
Look - today there is no 6-cyl M car available anymore: M3 = V8, M5 & M6 = V10, X5M & X6M = V8 TT

And in the future massive torque from turbocharged engines will require automatic or similar gearbox. Definitely not manual. Especially if the drive is hybrid.

Cars are changing rapidly these days. A big shift is going to happen already in 5-10 years.

I guess some too dogmatic (automotive) people will have a lot of troubles to adjust. Especially the ones who are dogmatic over certain tech, or engineering solution.

Sorry again.


But be sure every brand will offer typical car for the brand - despite different tech.

Oh well, then I think it is bye bye BMW and look for something else.

Seriously,IMO I think BMW assumes too much with this radical techincal turnovers..First,they praise efficiency and then they produce 2200 KG+ SUV with 550+ HP Turbocharged petrol engine with consumption far from being modest..then,cutting on straight six configuration..I mean,c´mon..

No manual transmission ?
So,how new 320ed has 6 speed manual gearbox instead of auto tranny?Is 320ed not to be car built with efficient dynamics principle?

Electricity is not even green, so your electric car will pollute all the same, just in a different way.


Don't believe everything you hear.

Bring back Bruhnke and to be sure Panke as well!

Why does 'massive' torque exclude manual transmissions?

There soon will be no "something else". Except older MY second-hand cars. Or perhaps some exotic ultra-expensive cars.

I'm sure in the future ALL Porsches, Ferraris etc will be turbo as well. And some models even hybrid - at least in Porsche case. And till 2020 some of them will be even full-electric.

As said: there's no other solution for dogmatic people than to change. ASAP.

I guess era of petrol motoring is slowly fading away. Paradigm change. As said by someone here once: electric sports cars would not produce "racing" engine & exhaust sounds. Exactly - the nature of motoring will change in some aspects. The change is inevitable - due to the shift in tech.

Good thing: we'll get older & will be much less interesting in old-days motoring.

That is all a matter of perspective.