Why don't BMW have a flagship sports car ("halo" model)?

[sebhaque]

Slightly drunken rambling so excuse me. Watching a Top Gear rerun earlier I was thinking - BMW's main (German) competitors all have some sort of PH model to sit above their run-of-the-mill cars. For example, Mercedes have the SLS, Audi has the R8, and Porsche tend to just sit in that category anyway so you could argue the 911 fits the bill. However, BMW don't seem to have any cars that are purely designed to be fast/sporty/supercar etc. While I can understand keeping the fast versions as simple evolutions of the humdrum cars punters buy (and plaster them in ///M badges to fool the less intelligent into thinking they're buying a 318d "M3"), I'm surprised that BMW haven't got a halo model.

Anybody got any thoughts on this? I'm struggling to think of another manufacturer that deals primarily in more prestigious/performance cars that don't offer something that's designed from day one to be an impractical weapon.

[Rawwr]

I8?

[Urban Sports]

Because they don't need that gay st when they've got the M135i

I'm being serious.

ETA wouldn't an M6 be more than a match for a V10 R8? Maybe BMW don't have to flash their tits?

[Pints]

Because "ultimate driving machine".

(Do they still use that slogan?)

[Urban Sports]

Pints said:

Because "ultimate driving machine".

(Do they still use that slogan?)

Yes.

[MitchT]

Urban Sports said:

Because they don't need that gay st when they've got the M135i

I'm being serious.

ETA wouldn't an M6 be more than a match for a V10 R8? Maybe BMW don't have to flash their tits?

A new M1 would be more of a match for the R8 than the M6. I agree - I'd like to see something small, impractical and unashamedly fast.

[Gizmoish]

Historically Merc were solid, austere, Audi were poshed up VWs. So they needed a halo. BMW has always done sporting cars.

But: i8, 850CSI, M6, M1.

[0a]

Could modern BMW be any more different from the company that produced the M1 and E28 M5.

Rear wheel drive is now simply a marketing gimmick for BMW, the majority of their models are 4 pot diesels, and they are emulating VAG group by niching the niches with such rubbish as the 3 GT.

[HustleRussell]

Presumably they're doing perfectly well without one.

[Patrick Bateman]

Pah.

They should do a supercar.

[Emeye]

They had the M1, but wasn't that pretty much a rebadged Lambo?

[Urban Sports]

0a said:

Could modern BMW be any more different from the company that produced the M1 and E28 M5.

Rear wheel drive is now simply a marketing gimmick for BMW, the majority of their models are 4 pot diesels, and they are emulating VAG group by niching the niches with such rubbish as the 3 GT.

I'm on my 4th BMW and I've had a real mix, they drive so well because they are RWD it's not a gimmick for me definitely not.

3GT is ace.

[Locke]

Good point actually, maybe the feel they'd sell a lot less M1/3/5's ect if they realised an equivalent to say an R8?

[Urban Sports]

Locke said:

Good point actually, maybe the feel they'd sell a lot less M1/3/5's ect if they realised an equivalent to say an R8?

So what is the M6?

They just don't make a song and dance about it IMO

[Patrick Bateman]

Well they should.

Would be nice to see something different.

[Leins]

Emeye said:

They had the M1, but wasn't that pretty much a rebadged Lambo?

Not sure if a tongue in cheek comment, but it certainly was not. Lambo didn't even manage to build many, and it was BMW to the core IMO. Still one of the finest 6 cyl engines ever produced in my eyes too


However, M1 "supercar" aside, I subscribe to the theory that, until more recent times, all the main German manufacturers viewed Porsche as their baby brother in a way, and there was an unofficial agreement to protect it. Therefore they left Porsche do what it does best, building out and out sports cars and supercars, and carried on doing what they excel at themselves, such as BMW's sports saloons. A prime example of this protection was the Audi RS2 and Merc 500E

I think the Cayenne and Porsche's (failed) pursuit of VW changed all that a few years back

Edited by Leins on Friday 8th November 00:16

[Frances The Mute]

Emeye said:

They had the M1, but wasn't that pretty much a rebadged Lambo?

Not quite.

Lambo took on the work to make the body but due to issues (mainly Lambo being in financial difficulty) it ended up being designed by Guigaro with BMW taking care of assembly themselves.

[RobM77]

It's a very good point. I'm inclined to think that the R8 only happened for Audi because of the Lambo tie-in, and Mercedes have always been a bit more upmarket and visionary than BMW, who just seem to quietly get on with building ordinary cars that handle very well. Nevertheless, I agree, I think BMW need another M1 and if they're pissing about with things like the X6M they can certainly afford it. I8?

[Urban Sports]

VAG brand is very diluted, they have to try hard.

[matthias73]

0a said:

Could modern BMW be any more different from the company that produced the M1 and E28 M5.

Rear wheel drive is now simply a marketing gimmick for BMW, the majority of their models are 4 pot diesels, and they are emulating VAG group by niching the niches with such rubbish as the 3 GT.

Modern BMW is exactly what it used to be. Rear wheel drive with sporty credentials, for the masses. Nobody is going to suggest that a 320 is the same as an M5, but you are trying to compare the two.

Its also time to take a step into the real world and realise that if a company wants to be profitable, and for its product to be road worthy, cars like the e28 and other classics like the 206 are just not going to be made any more.