BMW M Division CEO confirms next M3 will get turbo 6-cylinder engine

[GregMM]

Just saw this in EVO this month. Looks like a lighter M3 is in the future after all.
Cheers,
Greg

[XunXunDCT]

Goodness, thanks for the info.

[SlammedM6]

cool

[SlammedM6]

not until 2012 or 2013, so im far from worried

[aus]

Thanks for the article, but it was posted here about a month ago.

[vinnycg]

Correct me if wrong but the e92 is the only v8 M3?

If so this makes the car much more of a keeper for me.


-Vin

[SlammedM6]

Originally Posted by vinnycg

Correct me if wrong but the e92 is the only v8 M3?

If so this makes the car much more of a keeper for me.


-Vin

E90/E92/E93 are all V8 M3

[MMMorish]

[GregMM]

Originally Posted by aus

Thanks for the article, but it was posted here about a month ago.

A different article however; the first from EVO. But no worries...
Cheers

[URBAN LEGEND]

We will be ok. All of us will.

[mapezzul]

This is not necessarily new news...as BMW has been saying for the last 6-8 months that motors will be getting smaller and forced induction. Willich's original statement was a while ago, and most think he meant V6- there are several possibilities and the best will win out. Good read none the less!

More news worthy is that Willich as of this morning is no longer in charge of ///M


Ludwig Willisch (52), formerly President of BMW M GmbH, will take over as head of the BMW Group’s European sales region with immediate effect. In this capacity, Willisch will be responsible for sales of BMW and MINI automobiles in all European countries outside of Germany. With sales of 517,000 vehicles in 2008, this region accounts for 39% of the BMW Group’s total global retail volume, making it the most important of the company’s six regions in terms of sales performance.

“In Ludwig Willisch we have an outstanding manager with a great wealth and depth of experience for this important position. He is the right person to lead our biggest sales region successfully, even through difficult times,” said Ian Robertson, Board Member for Sales and Marketing.

Willisch, who holds a degree in economics, started his career with the BMW Group in 1996 as head of the Düsseldorf branch. He gained further national and international sales experience as head of the sales subsidiaries in Germany, Japan and Sweden. Under his leadership, sales of BMW M GmbH products increased by some 50% last year to stand at more than 24,000 units.

Ludwig Willisch’s successor at BMW M GmbH will be Dr Kay Segler (54). Until now, Dr Segler has been responsible for the 100 markets around the world that BMW Group Sales serves via local importers. His previous positions include four years as brand manager for MINI and a period as director of the BMW Group’s regional office in Singapore.

BMW M GmbH plays a significant role within the BMW AG portfolio. With adequate efficiency, its high-performance automobiles are expected to remain in strong demand around the world. At their recent unveiling in Shanghai, the M versions of the BMW X5 and BMW X6 garnered an extremely positive response.

Marco Saltalamacchia, head of European sales since 2007, will prepare for a new area of responsibility.

[ase2dais]

interesting notes! thks for the inside scoops

[lazyassand1balla24]

wow cant wait for the next generation m3s

[///Rage]

Glad I bought the Z4M!

[EmPower]

Originally Posted by GregMM

Just saw this in EVO this month. Looks like a lighter M3 is in the future after all.
Cheers,
Greg


Attachment 266396

As much as I love my 335, I think there is something very feral about the naturally aspirated 6s 8s and 12s that are being wrung out to produce the last possible ounce of power from their throaty and bellowy bowels.... Every time I hear an M3/5/6 or a 911GT3, my heart starts racing. An open windy road, windows down and one of these guilty pleasures and I will have a permanent grin accross my face

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

I swear if BMW strays away from their inline 6. I'm going to become a Mercedes Fan Boy.

[valeram]

I still prefer the NA V8 but if that is the direction that they are going, then resistance is futile.

[dillon733]

Originally Posted by mapezzul

This is not necessarily new news...as BMW has been saying for the last 6-8 months that motors will be getting smaller and forced induction. Willich's original statement was a while ago, and most think he meant V6- there are several possibilities and the best will win out. Good read none the less!

More news worthy is that Willich as of this morning is no longer in charge of ///M


Ludwig Willisch (52), formerly President of BMW M GmbH, will take over as head of the BMW Group’s European sales region with immediate effect. In this capacity, Willisch will be responsible for sales of BMW and MINI automobiles in all European countries outside of Germany. With sales of 517,000 vehicles in 2008, this region accounts for 39% of the BMW Group’s total global retail volume, making it the most important of the company’s six regions in terms of sales performance.

“In Ludwig Willisch we have an outstanding manager with a great wealth and depth of experience for this important position. He is the right person to lead our biggest sales region successfully, even through difficult times,” said Ian Robertson, Board Member for Sales and Marketing.

Willisch, who holds a degree in economics, started his career with the BMW Group in 1996 as head of the Düsseldorf branch. He gained further national and international sales experience as head of the sales subsidiaries in Germany, Japan and Sweden. Under his leadership, sales of BMW M GmbH products increased by some 50% last year to stand at more than 24,000 units.

Ludwig Willisch’s successor at BMW M GmbH will be Dr Kay Segler (54). Until now, Dr Segler has been responsible for the 100 markets around the world that BMW Group Sales serves via local importers. His previous positions include four years as brand manager for MINI and a period as director of the BMW Group’s regional office in Singapore.

BMW M GmbH plays a significant role within the BMW AG portfolio. With adequate efficiency, its high-performance automobiles are expected to remain in strong demand around the world. At their recent unveiling in Shanghai, the M versions of the BMW X5 and BMW X6 garnered an extremely positive response.

Marco Saltalamacchia, head of European sales since 2007, will prepare for a new area of responsibility.

good article +1

[mtechnik3]

Originally Posted by EmPower

As much as I love my 335, I think there is something very feral about the naturally aspirated 6s 8s and 12s that are being wrung out to produce the last possible ounce of power from their throaty and bellowy bowels.... Every time I hear an M3/5/6 or a 911GT3, my heart starts racing. An open windy road, windows down and one of these guilty pleasures and I will have a permanent grin accross my face

Right on sir!!

[GreenPlease]

I swear if BMW strays away from their inline 6. I'm going to become a Mercedes Fan Boy.

+1

I get a sinking feeling that they will go to a V6 configuration, however. I sense that they will go with a single VGT snail mounted in the V with liquid to air intercoolers. This would keep the charge pipes (very) short and thus make the engine quite responsive.

I'd prefer that they get creative and mount an I6 transversely and use it as a structural member, much as V8s are used as structural reiforcements in F1 cars.

[Big Windy]

Thanks for the link! If the M coupe really turns out to be like the E30, that will be great!

[NavidM3E92]

the only m cars i want in my collection are the e46 m3, e92 m3