German Car Zone

Completely new. A BMW never shares it's platform with any other car, period.


I guess so, yes.

Very fine by me!

There will be an outgoing "performance" R56, Plus the Speedster and Coupe will benefit too.

My interpretation of BMW's current position regarding strategy is that they are presently focusing on the exploitation of niches. There is a great deal of competition and saturation in markets where BMW remains traditionally strong in any event.

So cars like the M3 and Cooper S JCW are practically as good as they're expected to be yet face growing and increasingly diverse competition from various directions. Take the M3 for example - not only does it have to contend with direct rivals in the form of the C63 AMG and IS-F, it now has to fend off left-field alternatives like the Audi S4 in Europe and the CTS-V (price-wise) in the US. Halo CSL-type vehicles hold little return on investment given their low build numbers to technology investment ratios and ever-tightening emissions regulations have put paid to the high-revving NA engine concept in any event.

[At least Ferrari's new V8 heralds hope for the fact that Direct Injection engines with very high compression ratios can be ultra-high revving too and regulations compliant. Hopefully BMW take a close look at this possibility for future performance models.]

The Cooper S JCW is also as good as it can possibly be so BMW has the FWD, hot hatch base covered too...

The next generation M5 and M6 are, of course, underway and so BMW has little choice but to have the current stalwarts soldier on in the light of newer, stiffer competition in this area. Adding last minute transmission improvements, for example, through the fitment of M-DCT transmissions to this range is not viable at this stage of the model life cycle.

So, it's off to the niche markets for BMW where it can attract buyers with a broader range of purchasing criteria during this period of economic downturn.

scott we love you

The Cooper JCW needs a real LSD and to lose a few pounds. No doubt.

I liked the R53 Mini MUCH more than the current R56 (my family owns both, I drive both)

Yeah, it was great, a bit heavier and slower, but with quite a bit more character.

I hear you - and I'm certain you've got more experience in this area than I.

But I must say, yes and no.

Proper LSD on a front-wheel drive? In my opinion, no longer required given that all an E-LSD working through the braking system needs to do, is apply torque braking to the spinning inside wheel, thereby ensuring the wheel with the grip gets the drive it needs. Proper LSDs can result in inconsistent behaviour (witness the previous Focus RS) and torque steer as the diff loads a driveshaft. Especially in the instance of transversely mounted drivelines with un-equal length drive shafts, my opinion is that a pukka LSD is rendered superfluous in the light of these new E-Diffs.
If one needs more mechanical bite than that, then frankly, in my experience, one is asking too much of the tyres to cope with the resultant of lateral and accelerative vectors.

Yes, any car can benefit from a diet but this either results in a significant and intolerable loss in refinement or a substantial rise in price.

Thanks, great post.

One of the reasons why a real LSD is no longer offered is, apparently, that there were reliablility issues with the mechanical one. Furthermore, many insist that there is less torque steer in MINIs with an LSD than in those without.

Regarding the weight issue, that could be easily solved by ditching the rear seat and installing shell seats. People who have done this themselves have saved as much as 50 kgs. And that is just a small start... well, I know it will not happen. Enthusiasts will have to get down to business with some DIY