BMW M CEO On The Future Of M Cars -- /DRIVE ON NBC SPORTS...

[Dackelone]

Some highlights:

The interview takes place at the BMW M Studio in Garching, home of BMW M. The building that houses the M Studio started as the manufacturing room for the first BMW M3 (the DTM cars).

An M car is about motorsports and emotion - the way it looks and the character of the car. Going forward, it’s important for M to keep its character. It’s not so much about the specific technology of the car. It’s about the character and the technology fitting the car’s overall concept and character. An M3 for instance in the year 2030 will be an M3 regarding character, despite its exact technology not being known right now.

BMW M sees autonomous driving as a very good add-on feature for M cars. In the future, if that feature is available for M cars, it will be really helpful for slow moving traffic or traffic jams so you can relax and let the car drive itself because it’s no fun anyway, but as soon as the road clears or if you’re on the track then you’re driving yourself.

[aajami]

Key summary points for those that can't watch the video?

[440xiGCMsport]

BMW is going to close M Division so that that can put their resources into the i division and concentrate on electric cars.




















j/k

[VCP]

I've spent a couple hours in that room

Originally Posted by Dackelone

[440xiGCMsport]

what I got from the video was that M is going to make cars more for the everyday driver than reverting back to the old days of race car and enthusiast 1st and mass market second.
he talked about autonomous driving in M cars and how he wants it to be a great daily driver and how M division is responsible for looking at technology and also dynamics etc. No real new info.

[Diver]

Originally Posted by 440xiGCMsport

BMW is going to close M Division so that that can put their resources into the i division and concentrate on electric cars.
j/k

No, they will rename the i division the N division so buyers will be confused...

[infamousq]

Originally Posted by 440xiGCMsport

what I got from the video was that M is going to make cars more for the everyday driver than reverting back to the old days of race car and enthusiast 1st and mass market second.

I gathered the same thing. :

[jaehshim]

Originally Posted by Diver

No, they will rename the i division the N division so buyers will be confused...

lol funny because i recall this video about the new F80 interview

Albert Biermann, BMW M VP of engineering, who spent time in M since E30 development had this interview...spending majority of the time just backing up why turbo M3/M4 should be good as the previous generations...and within a month he was in Korea signing contract with Hyundai.

And soon, he created the N brand lol...

[C5 FOR]

30 years is apparently a decade!!!!

In addition, they want us to switch off driving the car when in traffic, stick the shades on and the baseball cap and stick the seat back. Ok they never said the last 2 things but they alluded to them. Another decade and we won't be driving M's at all, just looking good in the character of the car.

The first company to ditch the tech and just design a no nonsense drivers car, admittedly with character would get my £ every day of the week.

[reprod]

Originally Posted by C5 FOR

30 years is apparently a decade!!!!

In addition, they want us to switch off driving the car when in traffic, stick the shades on and the baseball cap and stick the seat back. Ok they never said the last 2 things but they alluded to them. Another decade and we won't be driving M's at all, just looking good in the character of the car.

The first company to ditch the tech and just design a no nonsense drivers car, admittedly with character would get my £ every day of the week.

I would be happy if they could give me the tech but keep driving characteristics at the same time. This is hugely optimistic thinking, but, you never know.

I'll admit, there are times where I am stuck in traffic and I just want the car to drive itself.

[Mantii]

I don't like this guy. He sounds like a rehearsed TV commercial.

Time moves on, tech moves on, fine, I understand that. Since we are moving full steam ahead towards all this tech, at least give people a choice. I know I'm not the only one who wants a drivers car first and foremost.

[Yeru]

Originally Posted by Mantii

I don't like this guy. He sounds like a rehearsed TV commercial.

Time moves on, tech moves on, fine, I understand that. Since we are moving full steam ahead towards all this tech, at least give people a choice. I know I'm not the only one who wants a drivers car first and foremost.

Agree; softball questions by /DRIVE, overall. I would have liked to hear more penetration into concerns and questions that the ///M community has, not just the warm and fuzzy stuff.

[Rupes]

In summary, M cars of the future will be much more fun for the computer systems controlling the car.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Rupes

In summary, M cars of the future will be much more fun for the computer systems controlling the car.

And BMW ///marketing speak will make it sound like this is what drivers want.

[tetsuo111]

Pre Erectile Dysfunction / Efficient Dynamics BMW:



Post ED BMW:

[PackPride85]

I don't mind if they pump M models with all this tech AS LONG AS I CAN TURN IT OFF WHENEVER I WANT.

[ice31]

Originally Posted by tetsuo111

Pre Erectile Dysfunction / Efficient Dynamics BMW:



Post ED BMW:

Man, I wish I could go back to 2004. These modern age, electric, self-driving cars are not my cup of tea...

[tetsuo111]

Exclusive spy photo of 2018 M4 GTS!

BMW M CEO unveils the exciting, new M4 GTS. Powered by an efficient 3 cylinder, 1.4L, M-Power twin turbo hybrid powerplant using technology licensed from Toyota and General Motors, the new M is longer, wider, and more comfortable than the current M4. It will offer a plethora of design options for proud owners to personalize their BMW. Continuing the striking gold-painted wheels of the 2017 M4 GTS, the new M car can be optioned to include a striking and aggressive M-chicken hood decal, as well as forward-looking battery technology from the futuristic Samsung Galaxy smart phone. Based on the latest M-Power RFT technology, the tires will last for the entire lifetime of the car (*not approved for non-autonomous driving mode), just like gearbox fluid. A limited-edition M-latte machine with M tri-stitching is a dealer installed option. Facebook is an option on the new driver security module, allowing proud owners to post about their M in real time rather than cope with the drudgery of driving. Aggressive aerodynamic panels improve gas mileage to better a Prius while whispering to lesser drivers, "Get out of my way"! Additional M-Power decals are available exclusively to proud owners (for an additional fee) and can be applied in most any location on the car besides the windscreen.

I reserve my wrath for those who should know better. Current BMW management is a heart breaker. RIP BMW M-Division. Strong work.

[GLTSRY1905]

Just make them sound decently good please...

Out of the big three German brands , the M division has the worst sounding engines to be honest. Not bashing just stating what i feel about them.

[krautmeister]

BMW too will whore out their brand that they built with enthusiasts as Audi has and Mercedes has. They will convince all the lemmings that it's still legit, then when the market plateaus.... and economies have a hiccup, people will vote with the wallet and the M bastardization will end.

Just as well... millennial males are pussies and becoming more and more effeminate, so no amount of plaid or beard oil will substitute for real masculine attributes.

///M cars of yore are over. It is now a marketing buzzword.... and trust me, I'm a marketer and if I were in charge of BMW, I'd do that for short term payoff and peace out. They cannot ignore that kind of momentum and coin to ignore the sheep masses.

[440xiGCMsport]

Originally Posted by PackPride85

I don't mind if they pump M models with all this tech AS LONG AS I CAN TURN IT OFF WHENEVER I WANT.

ummm we have electric steering because of this autonomous driving and lane keep etc. it is easier for manufacturers to incorporate these features with electric steering.
the more features the more motors and computers thus more weight etc.
in my opinion if you don't want to drive in the future than call an autonomous taxi or uber but I would like my cars without all this electronics and cost, weight and all the other negatives with increased electronics.
look at the antique cars and collector cars, with all these electronics we won't have any because no one can get parts after xx years.

[440xiGCMsport]

kraft meister I think in terms of marketing you are completely incorrect. Sure you can whore out the brand like MB and Audi but then there is no distinction of BMW as the ultimate driving experience and it will just be another brand.
if we look at BMW and the older M3's and compare it to other older AMG and RS cars we can see that the M3's hold value much better and even sometimes increase in value because people know it drives better than the competition. AMG and RS cars depreciate until worth nothing fairly quickly because no one wants them because they don't have the cache or driving fun of an M car. BMW image is based upon this and hence all younger people want a M car and it brings them into the brand early.
M brand is important to BMW and it should not have short term view. instead of halo car you have halo brand and if you dilute the brand it no longer has a halo to it.