Hello fellow enthusiasts, another BMW-related article on
www.Autobild.de.
In German, but if you click on the "Bilder" thingy you get lots of pics.
In short the article summarizes all M variants of BMW:
-e90 M3: coupe and cabrio will be sold. Beginning of coupe is start of 2007. An approx (unconfirmed) 4.4 litres 424 Hp V8 engine derived from the V10, special aerodynamic front and back spoilers, special, larger vented disk brakes, special seats and instrument pacakge, 4 mufflers (of course), light-metal used in doors and engine cover and will be available with manual and SMG. There is talk of an M3 e91, but unlikely that one will be brought here (last bit is my editorial).
BMW is working on their version of DSG (to be called apparently DKG) BUT, the current prototype cannot handle the over 500Nm torque of the M3, sooooo it is still on the drawing board.
-the refreshed Z4 in both cabrio and coupe version will be graced with a new generation 6-cylinder 3.2 litres M engine (as reenginnered from the current M3), doing approx. 340-350 Hp.
-less ground-breaking, but we are going to get here the M5 touring as well. Intersting, the specially designed 5 Series Touring rear suspension had to be re-re-designed for the M5 touring version. BTW the manual tranny for the M5 will be offered in Europe as well if there is sufficient customer demand for it.
-M6 cabrio is also apprently a done deal, to be intro'd in early 2006.
Interesting overall plans is the further refine and enlarge the M CSL line, According to Autobild, Mr. Ulrich Bruhnke, head of M division (and ex. AMG Chef), the CSL line will take on the RS line of Audi and the use of the turbos in MB's AMG line. Use of light-weight materials, as in the past, will be complemented by engine refinements upping actual power as well. An e90 M3 CSl with potentially an extr 25 Hp could appear in 2008.
-Now, the M1 will apparently come (use of same 3.2 6 cylinder engine as for the Z4) but its intro has been delayed. BMW will first introduce the cabrio and coupe versions. Since initial intro date was supposed to be beginning 2008, the delay means that the 130 is top 1 Series for now.
Remember, BMW reserves the right tho change everything around and play with our minds, but this is interesting reading.
