[Aronis]

DAM, the M550ix looks dam nice! 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds! WHAT!!

[DivideBYZero]

I'm not sure how anyone can say the M-Performance cars are just marketing.

[Verdi]

Originally Posted by DivideBYZero

I'm not sure how anyone can say the M-Performance cars are just marketing.

It IS just for marketing. It's a 550i with a lot of M parts. It's not an M car. That doesn't mean it's not a nice car though, because it is. But it shouldn't have the M badge on the back of it. (Just like my M550d shouldn't have it)

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/ca...0i_xdrive.html

0-60 mph in 4.1 sec, 0-100 km/h in 4.4 sec

0.2 seconds slower. G30 is not that much faster actually. But it makes it 0.1 secs faster than the M2 DCT while the F10 was 0.1 secs slower than the M2.

[DivideBYZero]

Originally Posted by Verdi

It IS just for marketing. It's a 550i with a lot of M parts. It's not an M car. That doesn't mean it's not a nice car though, because it is. But it shouldn't have the M badge on the back of it. (Just like my M550d shouldn't have it)

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/ca...0i_xdrive.html

0-60 mph in 4.1 sec, 0-100 km/h in 4.4 sec

0.2 seconds slower. G30 is not that much faster actually. But it makes it 0.1 secs faster than the M2 DCT while the F10 was 0.1 secs slower than the M2.

It's not trying to be an M car. Nobody is calling it an M car. There IS ROOM for the M brand to have a "pretty hot" set of models. That is the M-Performance model line. The have an M in front of the name, deal with it.

M snobbery is terrible and I don't support it.

[Verdi]

Originally Posted by DivideBYZero

It's not trying to be an M car. Nobody is calling it an M car. There IS ROOM for the M brand to have a "pretty hot" set of models. That is the M-Performance model line. The have an M in front of the name, deal with it.

M snobbery is terrible and I don't support it.

Hey. I'm not a snob. But it would be nice if there was something different about a M550i rather than "just" a 550i with M-Sport trim that would explain the badge. Maybe it is though?

[AndyinHou]

Originally Posted by DivideBYZero

It's not trying to be an M car. Nobody is calling it an M car. There IS ROOM for the M brand to have a "pretty hot" set of models. That is the M-Performance model line. The have an M in front of the name, deal with it.

M snobbery is terrible and I don't support it.

M-performance is basically in line with Audi's S-line, whilst the true M is Audi's RS line, if I'm not mistaken?

[DivideBYZero]

Originally Posted by AndyinHou

M-performance is basically in line with Audi's S-line, whilst the true M is Audi's RS line, if I'm not mistaken?

That's how I see it.

[jayg80]

AMG has gotten into the mix as well with a line in between the standard models and their full fledged AMG vehicles. Despite the opinions of the most passion car enthusiasts, the auto manufacturers are going to continue to build various lines as long as people are buying them.

It happened with Porsche when they introduced the Boxster, then Cayenne and finally the Panamera that went against their Motorsport roots

[Bimmed Out]

Originally Posted by DivideBYZero

I'm not sure how anyone can say the M-Performance cars are just marketing.

Really? Okay, I'll bite. It's because M Performance cars, while typically very nice cars, are not real ///M cars and yet have an ///M badge on the back.

Originally Posted by Verdi

It IS just for marketing. It's a 550i with a lot of M parts. It's not an M car. That doesn't mean it's not a nice car though, because it is. But it shouldn't have the M badge on the back of it. (Just like my M550d shouldn't have it)

Bingo.

Originally Posted by DivideBYZero

It's not trying to be an M car. Nobody is calling it an M car.

With all due respect, this post is even harder to believe than your first one. Every single M Performance car owner I've ever met has called his car an ///M car. Every single one.

Originally Posted by DivideBYZero

M snobbery is terrible and I don't support it.

It's not M snobbery -- it's M reality. To place an ///M badge on any non-///M car simply waters down the ///M brand and history.

Originally Posted by Verdi

it would be nice if there was something different about a M550i rather than "just" a 550i with M-Sport trim that would explain the badge.

Another good post.

Originally Posted by jayg80

It happened with Porsche when they introduced the Boxster, then Cayenne and finally the Panamera that went against their Motorsport roots

Just wait until the GT5 is introduced (Porsche applied for a GT5 trademark two years ago -- it's coming).

[DivideBYZero]

I Have Spoken!

[Nine Lives]

[Aronis]

Originally Posted by AndyinHou

M-performance is basically in line with Audi's S-line, whilst the true M is Audi's RS line, if I'm not mistaken?

The S-line is 100% show and no go. Our S-line Q7 has 33 more horsepower than the non-S-line but other than that its just badging! IE MARKETTING>


The M550ix is an awesome car! As was the 550ix before it! LOL.

MMike

there I feel 25%faster already.

[Aronis]

Originally Posted by kepler

It's not M snobbery -- it's M reality. To place an ///M badge on any non-///M car simply waters down the ///M brand and history.

\

Bingo!

///MMike

[Stu Pedasho]

Originally Posted by DivideBYZero

It's not trying to be an M car. Nobody is calling it an M car. There IS ROOM for the M brand to have a "pretty hot" set of models. That is the M-Performance model line. The have an M in front of the name, deal with it. M snobbery is terrible and I don't support it.

Wow! Easier there Tiger!

[chris719]

Look, we all know this is marketing nonsense started by Audi who had to go confuse the world with S models making dumb people think they were equivalent to true M and AMG models.

We all know the M235/M240/M550 etc are the equivalent of the top non-M model with M-sport package plus some additional badges and fluff. There isn't really a need to rehash it all.

The cars are just as great as they were before the M-performance branding came out.

[Aronis]

My point, I don't care about the extra M.....that car is VERY nice and the price is not bad! AWD!!!!! Perhaps a worthy replacement for my RS6......

///MMike

[m34m]

Originally Posted by DivideBYZero

It's not trying to be an M car. Nobody is calling it an M car. There IS ROOM for the M brand to have a "pretty hot" set of models. That is the M-Performance model line. The have an M in front of the name, deal with it.

M snobbery is terrible and I don't support it.

M used to stand for Motorsport. The "real" M cars of today have nothing to do with motorsport. Instead they have gone the AMG route and become big heavy and highly powered. Like the M5 M6 X5M X6M. Some would include the M3/4 in that group as having lost their way. The M2 seems to be all that is left that embodies the spirit of what M division once was and it has its own flaws including weight.

So the fact that the M brand has spilled down into the regular model line up is no surprise given that the M brand itself lost its way with its own models. Not to mention BMW had little choice given what Audi is doing with "S Line" and MB with AMG branding on lesser models.

Personally I don't like it but there is nothing that can be done about it.

[stripecheck]

Took a look at a standard one at the dealer when I finalized the M2 order. The quilted leather was particularly handsome and comfortable in person. I think the m performance car may be hard to beat bang for your buck wise. It was a very nice place to sit I'll tell you.

[SeanWRT]

BMW has been very inconsistent in M none-M treatment. Best they do is to specially tune engine and suspension (m135/40, m235/40), the rest only receives m trim - basically a bunch of plastics.