Get ready for a boom in M cars. The boss of BMW’s M Division, Dr Friedrich Nitschke, has confirmed that a raft of new models wearing the famous badge is on the way – with the M2 to be joined by a powerful M3 and a successor to the M1 supercar.
“Our pace of development must accelerate,” he told Auto Express in an exclusive interview. “We can build more cars, and we can build a wider range of cars.”
The new flagship 3 Series is due in 2014, and will feature a fresh 3.3-litre six-cylinder engine. This is set to get three turbos – one powered by electricity, rather than the exhaust gases – and is rumoured to offer 450bhp. A mix of steel and ultra-light carbon fibre-reinforced plastic in the body will help deliver huge pace.
But as Nitschke revealed, the car will also be efficient. “There will be a bigger focus on very low fuel consumption,” he said. “The new M3 will prove this.” However, this more eco-friendly approach won’t dilute the M Division’s high-performance appeal – as a replacement for the M1 supercar is finally coming close to reality.
This has been on the drawing board for more than 11 years, but only now does technology allow it to deliver the pace drivers would demand. “We have a fantastic history with the M1,” Dr Nitschke said. “The decision on developing this car is open. We’d love to do it.”
There’s no word on engines – but it would need a V10 or V12 to compete with rivals from Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Ferrari. If the project gets the green light, it’s unlikely to arrive before 2016.
The company is also looking at a successor to the ‘breadvan’ – the Nineties Z3M Coupe. “There’s no decision on an M version of the Z4,” added Dr Nitschke, “but this is something we could do easily.”
In addition, he spelled out a keenness for the M Division to “increase the speed with which we launch new models”. A lighter ‘CSL’ version of the new 1 Series M Coupe is on the cards, which could take cues from 2007’s tii concept.
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That car just looks beyond good and evil.
they seem to see that they need to catch up AMG as they have a much more exhaustive car development program and even an Academy and various initiatives.
is the pic above really the next M3 ???
It looks SO much like the likes of C 63 AMG Black series pic leaked this week - at least the color and dramatic look
They are making a CSL 1M coupe, perhaps they have realised that the current version is very lardy, and the lightweight one will actually weigh what it should have in the first place.
Is what it looks and sound sounds like from here. For me, in black, silver or kashmier metallic (first choice, but probably not available since a while). A fitting paddle shift 6 speed with a ZF rear/front and an AWD option would be sweet. Nice job.
Regards
I would rather burn my England flag and support germany at the next world cup than drive about in a BMW.. or any other german branded car M or not ..
Jag xf R for me all the way very little difference in performance if anything the xf R's use of a super charger not the cheaper exhaust turbo's gives it more usable power compared to a M5 motorway bmw...