[BMW M3 CRT]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Source: Autovisie interview with BMW M chief Frank van Meel
http://www.worldcarfans.com/11507089...m2-coming-soon

Summary:

- Definitely no M3 Touring and no M7 !
- M2 will be presented before its presumed debut at Frankfurt IAA auto show!
- BMW M analyzing prospects of more M Performance Automobile models, including hints about X3 M and X4 M.

[URBAN LEGEND]

Oh.

[Blksnowflake]

Watering down the M Division with this M sport baloney. Some M Sport cars look daringly close to full M cars. The difference between a standard and M are distinguishable but not so much for the M Sport variants, a huge mistake, look at a standard C400 and C63S, from a design point a view, even enthusiast will be suckered into a double take for confirmation.

But they want to lure buyers with that little "M" it will of course work, but then I won't feel the need to shell out the money for the high end when it's not really that high anymore.

I considered buying an STI but then realised the better engine is in the WRX, so no thanks, the better platform is the WRX, but they make the STI look better. Not quite the case with BMW yet but it's where we're headed imo.

[BimmerMat135]

M3 Touring is a no go and X3M is a go? Seem like Jaguar will give me more interesting options in the future. Tired of the ultimate share holder pleasing machine. I heard that bmw is considering a M235i active tourer. Really it is time to move on.

[Sanlala]

Making M too ubiquitous.., but seems to be a trend.. looking fed to M2 reveal though

[MRV99]

Originally Posted by Blksnowflake

Watering down the M Division with this M sport baloney. Some M Sport cars look daringly close to full M cars. The difference between a standard and M are distinguishable but not so much for the M Sport variants, a huge mistake, look at a standard C400 and C63S, from a design point a view, even enthusiast will be suckered into a double take for confirmation.

But they want to lure buyers with that little "M" it will of course work, but then I won't feel the need to shell out the money for the high end when it's not really that high anymore.

I considered buying an STI but then realised the better engine is in the WRX, so no thanks, the better platform is the WRX, but they make the STI look better. Not quite the case with BMW yet but it's where we're headed imo.

I agree but Mercedes has now jumped on the M-sport bandwagon by creating a sudo "AMG". The (letter)## Aka C63 AMG is used for true AMG powered models and (letter)### C400 AMG for M-sport style performance upgrades. BMW has scared the competition to do the same stuff so they are doing something right

[C5driver]

It's marketing and I understand the attraction of the M brand and the associated look.

Ultimately though, consumers who purchase an M car buy it for different reasons and I would hope that being mistaken for an M-Sport is the least of their concerns.

[MightyMouseTech]

Not too concerned, they will probably all come automatic anyway.

[eric@helix]

Originally Posted by Sanlala

Making M too ubiquitous.., but seems to be a trend.. looking fed to M2 reveal though

This.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Blksnowflake

Watering down the M Division with this M sport baloney. Some M Sport cars look daringly close to full M cars. The difference between a standard and M are distinguishable but not so much for the M Sport variants, a huge mistake, look at a standard C400 and C63S, from a design point a view, even enthusiast will be suckered into a double take for confirmation.

But they want to lure buyers with that little "M" it will of course work, but then I won't feel the need to shell out the money for the high end when it's not really that high anymore.

I guess you haven't seen a C450 AMG Sport...





Same goes for F-Sport (Lexus) and V-Sport (Cadillac). All they're doing is leveraging the brand equity in their respective performance arms and creating what's, really, just a sport package. Don't know why that's such a bad thing. I guess it makes sensitive people feel insecure because they bought an actual M, AMG, etc. and for whatever reason, want everyone to know it.

[BlackCobra08]

Originally Posted by Blksnowflake

Watering down the M Division with this M sport baloney. Some M Sport cars look daringly close to full M cars. The difference between a standard and M are distinguishable but not so much for the M Sport variants, a huge mistake, look at a standard C400 and C63S, from a design point a view, even enthusiast will be suckered into a double take for confirmation.

But they want to lure buyers with that little "M" it will of course work, but then I won't feel the need to shell out the money for the high end when it's not really that high anymore.

I considered buying an STI but then realised the better engine is in the WRX, so no thanks, the better platform is the WRX, but they make the STI look better. Not quite the case with BMW yet but it's where we're headed imo.

As a guy who is originally from the Subaru world (brought a 2012 wrx and 2013 STi brand new). The reason this is, is because the WRX engine is on a new generation platform (FA engine) while the STi engine is still on the very old EJ generation they've been running for 10+ years. They are working on the new FA engine for the STi but it will be a couple years. So since they launched the new body style, their short term solution was to just throw the old motor in the new body for now

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by BimmerMat135

M3 Touring is a no go and X3M is a go? Seem like Jaguar will give me more interesting options in the future. Tired of the ultimate share holder pleasing machine. I heard that bmw is considering a M235i active tourer. Really it is time to move on.

Lol and Jaguar isn't a share holder pleasing machine? They just built their first CUV.

When did people forget that these are for profit companies? Either expand your portfolio and sales with attractive products or lose to the competition.

Hop on any automotive forum and you'll always hear the rosy retrospection and people saying how brand x has "lost its way" or is "watering down the brand".

People mistake staying competitive for "watering down the brand".

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by Blksnowflake

Watering down the M Division with this M sport baloney. Some M Sport cars look daringly close to full M cars. The difference between a standard and M are distinguishable but not so much for the M Sport variants, a huge mistake, look at a standard C400 and C63S, from a design point a view, even enthusiast will be suckered into a double take for confirmation.

But they want to lure buyers with that little "M" it will of course work, but then I won't feel the need to shell out the money for the high end when it's not really that high anymore.

I considered buying an STI but then realised the better engine is in the WRX, so no thanks, the better platform is the WRX, but they make the STI look better. Not quite the case with BMW yet but it's where we're headed imo.

I have to agree. I have had so many people ask about my M3. Then I'm like no... It's a 335.

[W///]

I came here to boo that BMW keeps refusing to build an M3 Touring (someone build one), and cheer that the M2 is finally about to be released.

Carry on.

[BimmerMat135]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Lol and Jaguar isn't a share holder pleasing machine? They just built their first CUV.

When did people forget that these are for profit companies? Either expand your portfolio and sales with attractive products or lose to the competition.

Hop on any automotive forum and you'll always hear the rosy retrospection and people saying how brand x has "lost its way" or is "watering down the brand".

People mistake staying competitive for "watering down the brand".

They are pleasing their share holder but at least they don't forget their root. How would it be for bmw to built a F81 when the majority of the parts are already existing just a stupid corperate vision IMO. Look at the number of rebate and publicity for the X3 now compare to what they do for the F31 that give you an idea of their way of killing the wagon.

[yousefnjr]

What I read from that is M2 will be at Frankfurt, didn't see it say before Frankfurt... Hopefully I just need glasses

[W///]

Originally Posted by BimmerMat135

They are pleasing their share holder but at least they don't forget their root. How would it be for bmw to built a F81 when the majority of the parts are already existing just a stupid corperate vision IMO. Look at the number of rebate and publicity for the X3 now compare to what they do for the F31 that give you an idea of their way of killing the wagon.

Forgetting their root? That's should have been step 1 when Jag was bought out from Ford.

Two very very different things here. You know the Jag SUV will sell. The F81, as badly as I want one, will be a VERY niche vehicle.

[W///]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

What I read from that is M2 will be at Frankfurt, didn't see it say before Frankfurt... Hopefully I just need glasses

BMW are known to release the car online a few weeks before Frankfurt. This means we could only be 1-1.5 months away.

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by Blksnowflake

Watering down the M Division with this M sport baloney. Some M Sport cars look daringly close to full M cars. The difference between a standard and M are distinguishable but not so much for the M Sport variants, a huge mistake, look at a standard C400 and C63S, from a design point a view, even enthusiast will be suckered into a double take for confirmation.

But they want to lure buyers with that little "M" it will of course work, but then I won't feel the need to shell out the money for the high end when it's not really that high anymore.

I considered buying an STI but then realised the better engine is in the WRX, so no thanks, the better platform is the WRX, but they make the STI look better. Not quite the case with BMW yet but it's where we're headed imo.

The e28 M5 was called a wolf in sheep's clothing for a reason.
Now, quad exhausts, power domes, side mirrors, deep air dams are a must.

[hayes180]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

What I read from that is M2 will be at Frankfurt, didn't see it say before Frankfurt... Hopefully I just need glasses

saw the same thing...

[AdamW]

Originally Posted by Blksnowflake

Watering down the M Division with this M sport baloney. Some M Sport cars look daringly close to full M cars. The difference between a standard and M are distinguishable but not so much for the M Sport variants, a huge mistake, look at a standard C400 and C63S, from a design point a view, even enthusiast will be suckered into a double take for confirmation.

100% agree with this and its something they have to be aware of surely. especially as M car sales numbers are down currently

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by BimmerMat135

They are pleasing their share holder but at least they don't forget their root. How would it be for bmw to built a F81 when the majority of the parts are already existing just a stupid corperate vision IMO. Look at the number of rebate and publicity for the X3 now compare to what they do for the F31 that give you an idea of their way of killing the wagon.

An F81...they would literally sell tens of those.

Wagons are only popular on places like Jalopnik where everyone circle jerks to how great they are but would, in reality, never actually buy one.