Thursday 19th August 2010

No More V10s: Wiesmann Needs A New Engine

Axe falling on BMW V10 means Wiesmann needs to rethink its range-topping mill

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German sports car maker Wiesmann has been put in a bit of a quandary by the death of BMW's 500bhp V10, which it uses to power its range-topping GT MF5 and Roadster MF5 models.

Wiesmann has sold around 100 MF5s since the model's introduction in 2008, but it is now left without an engine. It looks like a V10 is out of the question; the twin-turbo V8 that the next M5 will use is a far more likely candidate.

No final decision has been made yet, however, as Wiesmann says that it has several options under consideration.

An announcement will be made in a couple of months, we're told. But if it isn't to tell us that the MF5 is to get a twin-turbo V8, there may be a certain amount of hat-eating in this office...

[cheesyblob]

What about an audi V10? why does nit have to be bmw?

[Gun]

I know, the twin turbo 6.0 V12 from the 760iL, perfect!

[simonrockman]

Or the VW 6.0. I drove a Wiesmann V10 at Top Marques in Monaco. An amazing car.

[killsta]

Why've BMW dropped the v10 in favour of the v8 anyway?

Surely can't be economy!

[Janosh]

Those Wiesmann's are absolutely gorgeous

Let's hope they find a 'suitable' replacement!

[Gun]

killsta said:

Why've BMW dropped the v10 in favour of the v8 anyway?

Surely can't be economy!

Emissions I would think, so they're in line with the new Euro 5 standards.

[Benjman]

I would guess that the connection to BMW is very good and therefore they'll dismiss any other manufacturer engine. They take a lot of parts out of BMW's part bin, not only engine and transmission.

To me, the V8 bi-turbo doesn't sound so bad at all. When it is capable powering the next M5 it should be adequate. At least better than any VW W-engine #shudder#

[WorAl]

As mentioned above, Audi V10, though I'm fairly sure the V8 Turbo would be quite an animal also.

On a side note, doesn't the MF5 sound a bit flatpack when pronounced aloud? as in MFI.

[mr_tony]

killsta said:

Why've BMW dropped the v10 in favour of the v8 anyway?

Surely can't be economy!

I think its emissions regs killing it.

If it isn't the v8tt then I will eat something hat shaped. It has to be a BMW as Weismann have arrangements to use their engines, as a small company swapping engine suppliers and the hassle it creates with servicing and parts and manufacturer support for existing models would be considerable.

I hope they get the engine they want. I have always expressed reservations about these cars as I think they are hugely overpriced for what you get. However the world would be a much duller place without them, and with 50 cars a year being produced its potentially a precarious situation.

I guess in the short term they could always ask clients who want a v10 to bring an old m5 with them...

[Utterpiffle]

Ooh, they have a Wiesmann dealers at the Meilenwork museum here in Düsseldorf. I was unaware that they did a v10, as the two they have on display - one has a 6 pot, the other a v8. Are these older models?

[Witchfinder]

Utterpiffle said:

Ooh, they have a Wiesmann dealers at the Meilenwork museum here in Düsseldorf. I was unaware that they did a v10, as the two they have on display - one has a 6 pot, the other a v8. Are these older models?

I didn't know they did a 6-cylinder one, but the BMW V8 has always been a staple of the the Wiesmann - I think that's the MF-4. I'll have a GT MF-4 in black please.

[Benjman]

Witchfinder said:

Utterpiffle said:

Ooh, they have a Wiesmann dealers at the Meilenwork museum here in Düsseldorf. I was unaware that they did a v10, as the two they have on display - one has a 6 pot, the other a v8. Are these older models?

I didn't know they did a 6-cylinder one, but the BMW V8 has always been a staple of the the Wiesmann - I think that's the MF-4. I'll have a GT MF-4 in black please.

In their previous models they used the 6 pot from the M3.The MF3 has the E46 M3 engine. After BMW dropped it they've choosen the V8.

ETA: I just checked and saw they still use the E46 in the MF3. Thought they dropped it in favour for the V8.

Luca was just faster then I was.

Edited by Benjman on Thursday 19th August 09:30

[TheArchitect]

I really hope they dont go the GM V8 route, whilst its a great engine, i dont think itll suit the car.

[g3org3y]

TheArchitect said:

I really hope they dont go the GM V8 route, whilst its a great engine, i dont think itll suit the car.

Something tells me the GM V8 will not be on the shortlist.

[Luca Brasi]

Utterpiffle said:

Ooh, they have a Wiesmann dealers at the Meilenwork museum here in Düsseldorf. I was unaware that they did a v10, as the two they have on display - one has a 6 pot, the other a v8. Are these older models?

Back in the nineties they used the engine from the E36 328i and the E36 M3. Now they still use the S54 from the E46 for the MF3 Roadster although you can also get with the new V8 from the current M3.

[Altrezia]

Can we get that picture in wallpaper size?

[havoc]

g3org3y said:

TheArchitect said:

I really hope they dont go the GM V8 route, whilst its a great engine, i dont think itll suit the car.

Something tells me the GM V8 will not be on the shortlist.

What about the AMG 6.3?!?

OK, I know it's a Stuttgart creation not a Munich one, and they may well have religious reasons for not using it, but wouldn't it be GLORIOUS in a Wiesmann?!?

[Ninjaboy]

there will be no choice or variety left now. It seems a decenty sized NA engines are on borrowed time. I have nothing against turbo's but it's nice to have a choice.

[plasticpig]

Another option it the supercharged Jaguar V8.

[Great Pretender]

TheArchitect said:

I really hope they dont go the GM V8 route, whilst its a great engine, i dont think itll suit the car.

IIRC Wiesmann's CEO sits on BMW's board of directors.

There wont be a non BMW-engined Wiesmann