Autobild new info

[Chris90]

(courtesy of bimmer.org)

Autobild's latest article
claims that BMW has decided against splitting up the 1 series into 1 and 2 series. While the coupe is still coming, it will be called 1 series coupe, instead of 2 series. The M1 will definitely be available in coupe form, with a 2 door hatch being considered as well.

Here's the release schedule according to AutoBild:

Late 2004: M5
mid-2005: M6
Late 2006: M3
Late 2007: M1

They go on to say that BMW is looking at reducing weight rather than having their NA engines crank out more and more HP, which they can't do endlessly. Turbos are apparently not being considered.

Finally, they confirm that the M1 will be powered by a 300HP inline 6.

[Sean]

2007 is far too long for me to wait. :mad:

[andy_thomas]

(courtesy of bimmer.org)

Autobild's latest article
claims that BMW has decided against splitting up the 1 series into 1 and 2 series. While the coupe is still coming, it will be called 1 series coupe, instead of 2 series.


And what are the odds now that the next 3-series coupe will still be a 3 series coupe? :)

A shame BMW decided to re-use the M1 badging. The majority prospective owners will neither know nor care what BMW built last week, let alone further back in its history, and that little slice of automotive history will be completely re-written :(.

[Alex Baumann]

And what are the odds now that the next 3-series coupe will still be a 3 series coupe? :)

It stays as 3 Series.

[andy_thomas]

It stays as 3 Series.

That is my view also - but plenty of folks were saying "I want a new M4!", whilst Jon Schafer, you and others where whispering quietly in the dark "you know, it won't be called a 4 series"...

On one (British-based) board I got flamed for suggesting that the 3 will stay a 3, as the majority had wedded itself emotionally to the idea of an M4. Not going there again :).

[Alex Baumann]

That is my view also - but plenty of folks were saying "I want a new M4!", whilst Jon Schafer, you and others where whispering quietly in the dark "you know, it won't be called a 4 series"...

On one (British-based) board I got flamed for suggesting that the 3 will stay a 3, as the majority had wedded itself emotionally to the idea of an M4. Not going there again :).

The rumors about the new designation was floating around the net for a long time. It all started as one of the german car magazines (Autobild) wrote about it, which turned out to be bogus. From close sources to BMW AG, we have learned that the model designation were to remain the same.

A lot of people liked the idea of the 'new' 4 Series, but the management board was holding a different idea. Instead of splitting the model range to many numbers, they have decided to keep the current nomenclature.

[Pete Teoh]

At the NY International Auto Show BMW NA presentation, the product managers confirmed that there will not be a 4-series. The name recognition for "M3" is way too important to give up.

[blueguydotcom]

(courtesy of bimmer.org)

They go on to say that BMW is looking at reducing weight rather than having their NA engines crank out more and more HP, which they can't do endlessly. Turbos are apparently not being considered.

Finally, they confirm that the M1 will be powered by a 300HP inline 6.

Sweet Georgia Brown! 300 HP in a car smaller than my current 3. That's heaven.

[The HACK]

2007 is far too long for me to wait. :mad:
You mean 2008? Probably don't want to touch that M1 (I hope they don't call it an M1) with a 60' pole during first year production.

Perfect timing, I can trade in the 323Ci for like 10K for a nice down payment on the replacement.

[Mr. The Edge]

Sweet Georgia Brown! 300 HP in a car smaller than my current 3. That's heaven.

I'm guessing it will weigh around 3000 pounds, so similar HP/weight to the current M3

[Sean]

You mean 2008? Probably don't want to touch that M1 (I hope they don't call it an M1) with a 60' pole during first year production.

Perfect timing, I can trade in the 323Ci for like 10K for a nice down payment on the replacement.

4 more years. :bawling:

[blueguydotcom]

I'm guessing it will weigh around 3000 pounds, so similar HP/weight to the current M3

I could live with 0-60 runs in the 4s. My ZHP's feeling slow now anyway.

[Andy]

They go on to say that BMW is looking at reducing weight...

:bow:

THANK YOU BMW!! I sure hope that's true.

[swchang]

At the NY International Auto Show BMW NA presentation, the product managers confirmed that there will not be a 4-series. The name recognition for "M3" is way too important to give up.

Then why not call the coupes the 3-series and the sedans the 4?

I, too, think it's unlikely they'll switch to 3/4- and 1/2-series designations. Besides, then they couldn't claim all the different iterations of the same model (coupe, sedan, wagon, convertible) as the same series, and it would no longer be the "best selling luxury line in America," or whatever their marketing line is. :tsk:

[swchang]

They go on to say that BMW is looking at reducing weight rather than having their NA engines crank out more and more HP, which they can't do endlessly. Turbos are apparently not being considered.

Maybe this signals the beginning of the end of the HP wars. :thumbup:

[Motown328]

Maybe this signals the beginning of the end of the HP wars. :thumbup:


:bustingup

[andy_thomas]

Maybe this signals the beginning of the end of the HP wars. :thumbup:

That's a war which Mercedes is quite happily having by itself, isn't it?

[EZ]

That's a war which Mercedes is quite happily having by itself, isn't it?

I just came back from a two-day bmwcca Performance Driving School ran on Buttonwillow racetrack. There was a guy with an E500 Mercedes in our group. (Other cars incuded various E46s, E36 M3s and E30 M3s). The Mercedes was the slowest car in the group.

:bustingup

[blueguydotcom]

I just came back from a two-day bmwcca Performance Driving School ran on Buttonwillow racetrack. There was a guy with an E500 Mercedes in our group. (Other cars incuded various E46s, E36 M3s and E30 M3s). The Mercedes was the slowest car in the group.

:bustingup

How much was the school?

[EZ]

How much was the school?

It was something like $430 for two days. It's about 10% more (on the per day basis) than the cheapest schools on the track, but it is certainly worth it. I learned MUCH-MUCH more than in the one ran by the track crue. I had an instructor in the car at all time, and the instructors there are professionally trained, not just a bunch of race junkies.

[armaq]

No way I'm believing what AutoBild have to say. They are full of crap. More than half of what they say won't turn out to be true

[blueguydotcom]

It was something like $430 for two days. It's about 10% more (on the per day basis) than the cheapest schools on the track, but it is certainly worth it. I learned MUCH-MUCH more than in the one ran by the track crue. I had an instructor in the car at all time, and the instructors there are professionally trained, not just a bunch of race junkies.


Wow, I think I'd be willing to shell out the dough for BMWCCA if the course is that good for so little.

Does BMWCCA have more info on the next socal one of these?

[EZ]

Wow, I think I'd be willing to shell out the dough for BMWCCA if the course is that good for so little.

Does BMWCCA have more info on the next socal one of these?

Yeh, check the LA chapter's homepage http://www.bmwclubla.org/calendar.shtml

[operknockity]

Yeh, check the LA chapter's homepage http://www.bmwclubla.org/calendar.shtml Thanks for the plug :thumbup: .

Also check out the San Diego (http://www.sdbmwcca.com/), Golden Gate (http://www.ggc-bmw-cca.org/), and Central California (http://www.cccbmwcca.org/) chapter web sites as they also hold HPDE schools at some of the same tracks. I try to list their events on the LA Chapter calendar, but don't always have to time cross check them all to catch the changes.

Also check the Events forum and Motor Sports, Racing & Track Events forum here on the 'fest as there are oft times announcements of upcoming LA driving events posted there.

[EZ]

I try to list their events on the LA Chapter calendar, but don't always have to time cross check them all to catch the changes.


Thanks for your effort. The calendar webpage at the LA chapter is really nice and handy. :thumbup:

[operknockity]

Thanks for your effort. The calendar webpage at the LA chapter is really nice and handy. :thumbup: danke schoen

[blueguydotcom]

Thanks for the plug :thumbup: .

Also check out the San Diego (http://www.sdbmwcca.com/), Golden Gate (http://www.ggc-bmw-cca.org/), and Central California (http://www.cccbmwcca.org/) chapter web sites as they also hold HPDE schools at some of the same tracks. I try to list their events on the LA Chapter calendar, but don't always have to time cross check them all to catch the changes.

Also check the Events forum and Motor Sports, Racing & Track Events forum here on the 'fest as there are oft times announcements of upcoming LA driving events posted there.

Thanks for the off-topic info. I just joined BMWCCA expressly to get access to the driving schools. The two day one at Buttonwillow previously mentioned sounds great. Too bad it's now a year away.