[tetsuo111]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Do we have to keep repeating the reasons for changing philosophy involves adapting to legislation,market trends and customer requirements?

M went Turbo because of incoming legislation in both Europe and The USA in order to have a fleet average across the range.
The only reason to accommodate these targets was by resorting to Turbo charging.

M went with X model SAVs because the market was changing, the customers wanted them and today with second generation X5M and X6M they make up the volume of BMW M sales. And not just for BMW but high performance SUVs are a big market impossible to ignore. There will be further expansion at BMW with the arrival of the first X3M and X4M. More crucially is that BMW identified an opening especially in Europe were tax penalty bear heavy on high performance SUVs with the arrival of the M Performance X5 and X6M50d models.

Contemporary Detroit builds the performance cars BMW used to. Look to the Vette, Camaro LE1, ATS, GT350R, and Viper for proof that exciting, high-performance, naturally aspirated motors remain viable even in today's regulatory, legislative, and efficiency climate.

M Division under the current "Efficient Dynamics" management is emasculated, and stands for little more than tri-color decals and matching iPhone cases. Sure, the current M-cars make impressive numbers (they're almost as fast as a Camaro for 3x the price), but they lack the visceral driving experience that put BMW on the map for driving enthusiasts.

Current M-cars strike me as BMW's answer to the old Pontiac Trans Am, with enough flamboyant aero and decals to make an adolescent giddy with excitement. As for those new M-SUVs. Really? Does the world need more SUVs from a so-called premium performance marque? Please. Enough already. It's pitiful.

Scott, the market hasn't changed. BMW did. The Board aspires to be as large as GM/Toyota/VW. Executive management changed strategy for growth. Sadly, they left their old customers to seek alternatives. There's a glimmer of hope. The M2 is the first sane attempt at an M car in years. Even BMW finally recognized how bloated and gimmicky the new cars are. The 2 series is a small step in the right direction, being smaller and lighter.

Last week I drove an E38 7-series. What a wonderful reminder of the type of car BMW used to engineer and market. Being a 7-series, the car is large, yet doesn't feel heavy. It isn't blindingly fast, but the visceral experience is wonderful. The car feels tight, the suspension is precise and supple, and it handles like an athletic drivers car, given its class/size. This isn't the experience I take away after driving current "Efficient Dynamics" cars.

Want further evidence? Just glance at the magazine copy below. Is this for travel enthusiasts? Fashionistas? Foodies? Who knows?! It certainly doesn't trigger interest in automotive passion.

Buying my first car in the 80s (used 911), it was an era when I and my peers swore we would only ever own German cars. That was then. With the exception of Porsche, I see little to differentiate Germany's Big 3 from a modern Japanese car, except the Jp cars are more reliable and less expensive to own and operate. I do miss the Bob Lutz "pre-ED" BMW era.