The CEO of BMW M GmbH, Ludwig Willisch, spilled his guts to Auto-Motor-und-Sport in a recent interview about the future of BMW's high-performance M division. The news was good, bad, and downright dumbfounding. For the good, Willish mentioned that future M-models will include high-revving turbocharged engines, and offer ceramic brakes. The bad news is that there will be no E91 M3 Touring, E92 M3 CSL, or M1 Concept. Apparently, BMW doesn't feel there is enough of a market to support those vehicles. The perplexing news is that BMW is currently working on M-versions of the X5 and X6 (apparently to answer a question that enthusiasts have yet to ask). While we cannot control the electrochemical signals being sent between neurons within BMW's think tank, we can continue to hope that BMW doesn't dilute the M-brand the way Mercedes-Benz has with AMG.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/29/the-fut...x5-x6-and-less/

I knew they were working on performance versions of the X6 and X5, but actual M-versions. Please don't put a M badge on a SUV. What are they smoking? :think:

The next generation 1-series is due in late 2011. Maybe they will have a M version 1-series then. A small light-weight high-revving turbo car, with hopefully better looks. :drool:

Will kill faster too :P :devil:

I think their strategy is dead on ! An ///M X5/6 will be a welcome addition to the stable !! Good on them ! I never got the ///M wagons/tourings ....................as for the 1 series , that friggen 135 with the Sport package is an ///m for almost anybody ! :thumbsup:

I have nothing against M division contributing to the development of a performance X5 and X6.

Just don't put a M badge on a SUV/SAV.

M does stand for Motorsport, it has racing history.

maybe they going to use the X5 and X6 to race :P

AMG have done it, so maybe BMW also feel they can get away with it? I agree with you though, M really stands for racing and positions/sells itself on that heritage. Its not just about putting high-performance engines in mass-market factory models -- which IMHO is what AMG now stands for, as opposed to its original racing history. There is no doubt a market for very high-powered SUVs, but I find it hard to believe that BMW would impact / damage its M brand by going the same route as AMG :think: