RE: The end of M
Discussion
This isn't new though is it? As other posters have pointed this has been happening for a long time. The proper M car ended with the E30 when they stopped having to homologate cars for racing. Every M since then has been a badge exercise. Don't get me wrong, they have still produced some cracking M cars but they stopped being hardcore over 20 years ago.
The E36 M3 was derided for being too big and heavy by many when it came out, it's only now with hindsight compared to the bloated cars we have today that we can see it in a better light, the same thing happened for the E46. The M5 has never been about hardcore thrills either, it was always designed to be the ultimate GT car so again I'm not sure what we have lost as you could argue the new M5 is even better at filling this design brief than ever before. You could in fact say the CSL and the E60 M5 are the anomalies for the M car, something out of the norm, the 2 designs from the furtive minds of some mad engineers which somehow got given the green light but they are certainly not the norm.
Me thinks there is definitely a touch of rose tinted specs going on here, the M moniker stopped standing for "Motorsport" a long long time ago.
The E36 M3 was derided for being too big and heavy by many when it came out, it's only now with hindsight compared to the bloated cars we have today that we can see it in a better light, the same thing happened for the E46. The M5 has never been about hardcore thrills either, it was always designed to be the ultimate GT car so again I'm not sure what we have lost as you could argue the new M5 is even better at filling this design brief than ever before. You could in fact say the CSL and the E60 M5 are the anomalies for the M car, something out of the norm, the 2 designs from the furtive minds of some mad engineers which somehow got given the green light but they are certainly not the norm.
Me thinks there is definitely a touch of rose tinted specs going on here, the M moniker stopped standing for "Motorsport" a long long time ago.
See, I would be keen if there was another version of M, without the firebreathing 500bhp + engines, just a decent range of engines but with all the trick parts, big floating brakes, decent ARB's, mechanical LSD's - basically a proper track pack with your choice of power (not like the stiffened up M Sport).
The current range of M cars are just too frustrating to drive on the road as you can't ever get near to any of the cars potential - so it really is about braging rights.
Still, people do love to say that they drive a M Sport...
The current range of M cars are just too frustrating to drive on the road as you can't ever get near to any of the cars potential - so it really is about braging rights.
Still, people do love to say that they drive a M Sport...
That was a really sad bit of ranty and pitying "journalism". Single point pieces (like single issue political parties) rarely satisfy because they don't take in the bigger picture and skip inconvenient facts in the rush to push out opinion.
As a recent E92 M3 convert from Porsche I think they are an awesome brand and have complete faith in them continuing that. M135i and M1 are a case in point and as an all rounder my M3 can't be beaten IMHO. If the gap grows too big between soft comfortable M series and the raw feel the article's author wishes for then I am equally sure BMW will bring out a stripped out lighter version to satisfy their minority interests.
As a recent E92 M3 convert from Porsche I think they are an awesome brand and have complete faith in them continuing that. M135i and M1 are a case in point and as an all rounder my M3 can't be beaten IMHO. If the gap grows too big between soft comfortable M series and the raw feel the article's author wishes for then I am equally sure BMW will bring out a stripped out lighter version to satisfy their minority interests.
There is nothing wrong with getting misty-eyed over the passing of the old school M's that many of us own.
I don't necessarily buy the argument that it's the nasty politicians forcing BMW's hand either. Their competitors are still selling high-revving NA engines that are getting increasingly clean. Take the Boxster/Cayman/991 Carreras or the SLK AMG or the RS4/RS5/R8 as examples. Within BMW, these cars sell in such pifflingly small volumes compared to their mainstream brothers/sisters to have any meaningful impact on their overall CO2 emissions average.
I think BMW have just taken the cheap route to protect margins. Who can blame them for that I suppose. They are fighting a battle everyday to stay independent and not get swallowed up into a vast conglomerate such as VAG. The other thing we need to remember is that these days Munich is increasingly looking to Moscow, Shanghai, Mumbai and not to Frankfurt, Paris, London. There is no "tradition" of M in these newer emerging markets to speak of, so some of the models we recoil in horror over (X5&6M's) have sold well over there.
I don't necessarily buy the argument that it's the nasty politicians forcing BMW's hand either. Their competitors are still selling high-revving NA engines that are getting increasingly clean. Take the Boxster/Cayman/991 Carreras or the SLK AMG or the RS4/RS5/R8 as examples. Within BMW, these cars sell in such pifflingly small volumes compared to their mainstream brothers/sisters to have any meaningful impact on their overall CO2 emissions average.
I think BMW have just taken the cheap route to protect margins. Who can blame them for that I suppose. They are fighting a battle everyday to stay independent and not get swallowed up into a vast conglomerate such as VAG. The other thing we need to remember is that these days Munich is increasingly looking to Moscow, Shanghai, Mumbai and not to Frankfurt, Paris, London. There is no "tradition" of M in these newer emerging markets to speak of, so some of the models we recoil in horror over (X5&6M's) have sold well over there.
I have to say coming from a Focus ST Mountune (Turbo, 5 pot) to the N/A six in my Z4M it really does prove how great the engine is. Compared to the rivals my Focus had lots of character and sound and the engine in the Z4M even more so.
After driving many cars i have to say the large N/A engines in the following cars Z4M, E46, E92 and RS4 are definitely my favourite i haven't driven anything american only a Monaro 500 (but it had a supercharger). I also happen to find flappy paddles or any automatic gearbox removes a sense of involvement.
The new breed of cars that are designed around EU laws (saftey and emissions targets) seem to be more and more compromised rather than something for personal enjoyment. Obviously there are exceptions to the rule but they are fewer and fewer of these around and a lot of the cars that are desirable are also becoming even more costly.
After driving many cars i have to say the large N/A engines in the following cars Z4M, E46, E92 and RS4 are definitely my favourite i haven't driven anything american only a Monaro 500 (but it had a supercharger). I also happen to find flappy paddles or any automatic gearbox removes a sense of involvement.
The new breed of cars that are designed around EU laws (saftey and emissions targets) seem to be more and more compromised rather than something for personal enjoyment. Obviously there are exceptions to the rule but they are fewer and fewer of these around and a lot of the cars that are desirable are also becoming even more costly.
M badge has always been a marketing tool, but up to maybe 5-10 years ago they had the cars to back it up. Great driving, understated looks... nowadays they will make very minor changes to bog standard BMWs and cover it in M badge bling. BMW is on a slippery slope in terms of their performance cars, i hope one day they remeber what M means to true drivers.
As long as they make a car that's great to own and drive (from a driving enthusiast's view point - eg a PHer) I don't care WHAT badge they put on it. None of us need our choice of car to be 'confirmed' by a badge............do we? Not knocking the M3 line or M brand in general btw.
Edited by Pugsey on Monday 10th December 10:51
Implying aside, have they actually said they will stop the M3?
Even then, apart from a badge change, as its' been said above, they would effectively stop the 4 door M3 as the 4 series is nothing but a 3 series coupe.
I'm more frustrated about the lack of a new Z4M in the presence of X5M and X6M?
Even then, apart from a badge change, as its' been said above, they would effectively stop the 4 door M3 as the 4 series is nothing but a 3 series coupe.
I'm more frustrated about the lack of a new Z4M in the presence of X5M and X6M?
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