Dr. Kay Segler, BMW M GmbH's Managing Director, confirms the 1-Series M and Turbo M5

[Mark]

Shortly after BMW's victory at the 24h @ the Nurburgring, Dr. Segler, the director of BMW M GmbH sat down to give an interview with the German language publication Auto News, where he comes right out and confirms the BMW 1-Series M. He goes on to say the car will arrive in the second quarter of 2011.

Of course, for many of us forumirazzi, the existence of this car or the fact that it is a product of BMW M was never in doubt *cough http://www.bimmerpost.com/m1 cough*, but this is significant news in that its the first time a member of BMW has officially recognized the existence of this car, and more so that its coming from the director of BMW M. Previously Dr. Segler only mentioned they were considering to build this car.

Whats also notable from the interview is that Mr. Segler basicly comes out and says the car will not be called the M1. He feels that the name is reserved in history by the original M1, think NBA jerseys in the rafters. He of course, would not divulge the exact name the new car will arrive with as I'm sure that is still a highly kept secret within BMW until they put out the official press release. The car will be in some way based on the 306hp 135i Coupe, and will be produced in limited numbers, mainly owing to its limited remaining lifespan, this time think Z4 M Coupe/Roadster.

Dr. Kay Segler also touched upon the upcoming BMW M5 for 2011. The car will come down in cylinder count to 8-Cylinders (from the current 10) and also introduce turbocharging for the M5. As you might have already guessed, this is the same engine that BMW has recently shoehorned into the X5 and X6 M, namely the BMW S63 engine (4.4L twin turbo, twin scroll, direct injection). The engine will be different and tweaked some more, numbers were not divulged but I believe the car would come in at the 585-600HP mark. BMW M's goal with this car is a "Two Cars in One" philosophy, meaning that the car would be a civilized daily driver, but at the literal touch of a button transform into a racetrack eating beast. Dr. Segler certainly sounded proud in their accomplishment of this goal!

Next, the conversation turned to the possibility of Diesel cars in BMW M products. While he certainly did not knock them out (he even says they have great potential), he believes that at this time they don't technically fit into the BMW M paradigm. Much of it has to do with their lack of high-revs and also lack of demand in the most important BMW M market, the USA.

In their discussion, the topics of sales figures came up and Mr. Segler talks about the tough times that were encountered overall for BMW M in 2010, but he did sound off an optimistic note. The BMW M director has a positive outlook for 2011 based on growth in Asia, especially China and a general world-wide economic rebound that is in progress. In his final remarks, Dr. Segler talks about how he wants BMW M to increasingly cater to a more youthful market, putting my two cents in on that statement, I hope to see more cars like the 1-Series M and more speciality CSL/GTS type cars coming out of BMW M.

Source: http://www.auto-news.de/auto/news/an...-GmbH_id_27181 [GERMAN]
Find our BMW M1 / 1M / 1-Series M Coverage here: http://www.bimmerpost.com/m1
Find our BMW M5 Coverage here: http://www.bimmerpost.com/m5

[T89]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.


T

[Pavel]

so... it is an M1 but its not at the same time

[Driv3r]

Im going to start my savings now!

[iveman89]

thank god they reserved the M1 title and did not use it on this car..

[UltimateBMW]

"M Coupe" is the most likely name choice, imo. A suitable replacement for the late Z4 M car.

[BrokenVert]

Bout time somebody confirmed this

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

"M Coupe" is the most likely name choice, imo. A suitable replacement for the late Z4 M car.

And what about the rumored vert? You cant call a 2+2 a roadster

[Pavel]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Bout time somebody confirmed this

but he's confirming that it's not an M1.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

And what about the rumored vert? You cant call a 2+2 a roadster

Pssh. They call the X6 a Sports Activity Vehicle. At least they'd be directionally correct with a four seat convertible. Just be happy they don't call it the M soon to be 2. It certainly seems like BMW is leaning towards labeling the next iteration of the current 1er as the 2 series and creating space for the new fwd car to be the 1er, not the 0er, or the 0.5er.

[JasonCSU]

Any remaining naysayers now have their confirmation, as if all the other evidence wasn't enough.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Pavel

but he's confirming that it's not an M1.

He's confirming it will not be called "M1". That doesn't mean it's not an M car.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Pavel

but he's confirming that it's not an M1.

He confirmed the development of an M variant of the 1 series. He simply said that it wont be called "M1" as that jersey has been retired.

But just for a second. How is it that people get all up in arms when a 1 series is rumored to be called M1 but these same people are totally cool with the same 1 series based car being called M Coupe. Isnt M Coupe reserved for Zeds?

You cant have it both ways. Either you are behind the principle that reusing a past name for a past car on a current model is wrong or its right.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

But just for a second. How is it that people get all up in arms when a 1 series is rumored to be called M1 but these same people are totally cool with the same 1 series based car being called M Coupe. Isnt M Coupe reserved for Zeds?

You cant have it both ways. Either you are behind the principle that reusing a past name for a past car on a current model is wrong or its right.

I haven't seen any BMW evidence of the M Coupe/Roady naming. To be honest, I have more of an issue with that then I do with M1, but that's probably because I don't own an M1.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

But just for a second. How is it that people get all up in arms when a 1 series is rumored to be called M1 but these same people are totally cool with the same 1 series based car being called M Coupe. Isnt M Coupe reserved for Zeds?

You cant have it both ways. Either you are behind the principle that reusing a past name for a past car on a current model is wrong or its right.

I doubt it will be "M Coupe", but perhaps a variation.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

I haven't seen any BMW evidence of the M Coupe/Roady naming. To be honest, I have more of an issue with that then I do with M1, but that's probably because I don't own an M1.

There isnt. The name is still pure speculation. But my point is still valid.

[positiveions]

someone finally spilled the beans. Most likely, it will be probably be called 1M.. that way BMW won't anger some M1 fans, and reserve the title to such legendary car. In so much that I always liked M5s', I don't like the button touch and you have extra horsepower. THat is ridiculous. That is self teasing. I know for fact that many of us will have that button on the extra horsepower. BMW change your philosophy, and create something that will make sense.

[Upgrade+]

So how long will this be "limited"? And what happens with the next gen 1er? Do they plan to make an M version then as well?

[Oulixes]

A 1-series M-car is an M-car, no matter of the label.

("What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet")

[E60orBust]

Originally Posted by Oulixes

A 1-series M-car is an M-car, no matter of the label.

("What's in a name? that which we call a //M
By any other name would still scare the hell out of your passengers just as much")

*fixed*

[NavM3]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

"M Coupe" is the most likely name choice, imo. A suitable replacement for the late Z4 M car.

I agree. M coupe is the most logical name considering M1 is out of the equation.

[IZAGLO]

135Tii or 135M