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04-05-2012, 10:01 AM | #1 |
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NYIAS Interview: We Talk F80 M3, M5, M6 with M Brand Manager and Marketing Director
BIMMERPOST NEWS NYIAS Interview: We Talk F80 M3, M5, M6 with M Brand Manager and Marketing Director We had the chance to speak to BMW NA M Brand Manager Matt Russell and BMW M Marketing Director Thomas Schemera at the 2012 NYIAS about many things M. We covered some hot topics/models, including the M5, M6, M3 (current and future generation) and M Performance Automobiles. M5 / M6 Can you tell us about the changes to the 2013 M5 from the 2012 M5? Why the wait for the 2013 model year for the US market? It's nothing major. It's small things; it's electronics underneath, little computer things. It's definitely not customer-facing changes and not a great deal of functionality change. How does the manual transmission affect the M5's performance? About 0.10 second 0-60mph difference (slower than DCT). We don't have official EPA MPG estimates yet, but it's not much. I [Russell] drove the 6 speed manual a very long distance and the onboard computer indicated a 77 MPH average speed with 24 MPG consumption. What's the difference between M5 and M6 Coupe in terms of handling? The M6 coupe is a little more sporty in terms of handling by the design of the front and rear axle and the rigid connection to the car body. But you have to be a very very good driver to experience the difference. And the powertrain of the two cars are exactly the same. Other differences include a 4.5" shorter wheelbase on the M6, 100 pounds lighter for the M6 coupe (compared to M5), and the carbon fiber roof brings the center of gravity down on the M6 coupe. How much weight does the CFRP roof on the M6 save? About 10 pounds compared to a steel roof and way more than that versus a sunroof. When will US ordering guides be made available for the M5 and M6? When can orders be submitted? Ordering guides will be available in the next two weeks for the M5 and M6 coupe/convertible. F10 M5 order bank opens the week of April 23rd. M6 convertible orders will start before that and M6 coupe will be the same week or a week after (the M5). [Note: US pricing for the 2013 M5, 2013 M6 coupe, and 2012 M6 convertible was just released yesterday, along with some preliminary M5 options/standard equipment info] M Performance Automobiles Dr. Nitschke ruled out any M version of the X3 and Z4 for us at Geneva. Can you rule out or in the possibility of M Performance version of X1 coming? What's the first M Performance model NA can expect to see? We would like to make our brand more accessible for younger customers and more affordable. M is not all the time very cheap. We have a couple of things in mind, but no final decision have been made yet. We would love to do it; it depends on business case and market demand. We can't say what the first M Performance Model the US will see, but it won't be a diesel. E92/E93 M3 and F80/F82 M3-M4 Can you provide any more specific time frame for the end of production of E92/E93 M3? The E92 M3 coupe will cease production in the middle of 2013 (as a 2013 model year) and the E93 M3 convertible will stop production a few months after the coupe's end of production. [To repeat what Matt Russell has said in an earlier interview, there will be no successor M3/M4 until all E9x M3 models cease production, so expect the next M3/M4 to come as a 2014 model year]. Demand for the E92/E93 M3 is still very strong. In the States from a sales perspective, we have something on the order of four times the demand for the M3 over the supply. One in four dealers may have inventory currently. It is still an icon and the measuring stick [in its segment]. On the next generation F80 M3 (F82 M4?): There will be a tremendous change in technology which comes from innovation. This has nothing to do with a change of BMW M's character or change of philosophy. We stick to our philosophy, to our DNA. We set our objectives then we think of the appropriate technology - how to put the objectives into practice. It will be for sure the best M3 ever - lighter (than previous M3), faster, better acceleration, and more efficient. I [Schemera] already had the chance to drive the new M3, or however it's called, and it's really really great. I can tell you that this new M3 at this stage is better than the previous one. [Follow our F80/F82 M3-M4 coverage @ http://www.bimmerpost.com/m3/f30m3/] |
04-05-2012, 10:49 AM | #2 | |
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04-05-2012, 10:59 AM | #4 |
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04-05-2012, 02:46 PM | #6 |
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Now is not the time to know... but you will soon...
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The M850i is evidence that BMW have got their mojo back when it comes to dynamic sports cars...
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04-05-2012, 04:12 PM | #7 | |
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Thought that was the M4 coupe. |
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04-05-2012, 06:43 PM | #8 | |
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That is barely scratching the surface. If you go to BMW's testing facilities in Germany or indeed Miramas in Southern France you will see prototypes of cars that have not been seen publically because an internal testing programme is completed first before prototypes venture out in public. So M personel have the ability to drive the M4 behind closed doors, just as I was testing an electric drivetrain under a 7er body earmarked for a future BMWi vehicle. The M4 Coupe prototypes should be seen at the start of Summer.
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The M850i is evidence that BMW have got their mojo back when it comes to dynamic sports cars...
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04-05-2012, 08:20 PM | #9 |
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Drives: F82 M4 coming soon..
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The anticipation is literally killing me.
BMW, if you are reading this, I am dying and its your fault! Nah jk, but I cant wait.. |
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04-06-2012, 10:21 AM | #11 |
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Sounds like BMW is really excited about the next m3. Too bad it's still 2 years away. But the lighter weight more power is great news. Besides going turbo, this car will top the current m3 in every way
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04-06-2012, 03:28 PM | #12 |
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Only about one year. But we'll know more about it before the end of 2012.
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04-06-2012, 04:51 PM | #13 | |
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This guy is the m brand manager and says about 2 years until next m3 but you seem to know better |
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04-07-2012, 03:16 AM | #14 | |
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So this is not 2 more years out, but only 1 year! By the way, should be integrated into production vehicles from September 2012, the first ... |
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04-07-2012, 06:51 AM | #15 |
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Now that I think about it is right, about 1 year for EU, 2 years for US.
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04-07-2012, 07:30 AM | #16 | |
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Best regards, south
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04-09-2012, 09:39 AM | #17 |
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1. Magazines had written that M5 will do 30MPG,which i never believed.. (less power yet similar powerplant V8 Twin Turbo 550i 6MT manual does 15/22...how can a more powerful, probably tricked at cylinders and exhausts and turbos have a better efficiency? (I'm talking raw MPG, not one of those engaged green mode and auto stop/start bs). But still, now i get the picture, the new M5 with all those green modes and BS will do ~17/24 at best.
2. Every generation of M3 has improved in performance, tha't obvious.. - - no arguments to be made nor no questions to be asked. The next one will certainly be better than the E9x in many aspect, especially in performance. From seeing the current 3 series, however, I'm a bit disappointed that BMW is also following the tract of using cheaper material, cheaper car basically along other automotive industries. Anyhow, every generation is unique, like the shockingly sporty E30 M3, first silky smooth inline 6 E36 M3 (with first sedan availability), the "Raw" inline-6 most popular E46 with first SMG, and even lighter yet more grunt V8 engined E90/92 M3. And the next one will be a "turbo monster" 6 cylinder M3. It just makes every generation of M brand unique and worthy of collecting as a benchmark practical sports car. I just hope that the "practical" part is kept in the next turbo version. Last edited by jaehshim; 04-09-2012 at 09:45 AM.. |
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04-09-2012, 02:18 PM | #19 | |
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