2008 Bmw 535i on 2040-cars

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BMW says current M3 sold out, no new AWD M models planned

Car and Driver asked the head of BMW M, Friedrich Nitschke, a few questions about what the go-fast division had in mind for the future, and was rewarded with some enlightening answers. The best news to purist ears is that Nitschke said customers don't want all-wheel drive on their M cars, so it's the rear wheels alone that will propel new product into the future. If you want both an M badge and four driven wheels, it's the X5 M, X6 M and M Performance models you're looking for in the catalog.
"Mixed bag" is the phrase you're looking for regarding the other answers. Nitschke said that future M engines "at the core of their architecture" would "be closer to BMW AG engines" that are optimized for M cars, instead of following in the line of unique marvels like the V10 and naturally aspirated V8. They will keep the high redlines, however, with Nitschke saying "there is room beyond" the 7,000 rpm mark in BMW's current V8 turbos.
Managing weight will keep the same priority for M that it is for every other brand, so electrically assisted power steering is coming, as is an "unconventional" materials mix. At the smaller end of the M scale, Nitschke described three-cylinder engines as "attractive," saying that the brand can produce more than 310 horsepower from a three-pot.

BMW celebrates its awesome '80s M535i

BMW recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of the M5 with a very limited, special edition of the super sedan. And even before the original version was transporting German executives at ludicrous speeds down the Autobahn, the folks in the M department tried their hand at improving the 5 Series with the M535i. Only offered in 1980 and 1981, the company made just 1,650 of these top-spec models, but they sowed the seeds for the future. In this video looking back at the M535i, you really see the automaker from a completely different era. As an outgrowth of the company's touring car racing efforts, the special model packs a 3.5-liter inline-six rated at 218 horsepower, a powertrain capable of accelerating the M535i to 62 miles per hour in 7.5 seconds via a dogleg five-speed gearbox. This take on the 5 Series is also a visual treat because it mixes the standard version's skinny A-pillar and thick C-pillar styling with some era-specific upgrades. The corduroy-covered Recaro seats and groovy multicolor stripes down the side, on the air dam and at the rear are especially fun touches. While the video's announcer is a bit dull, there's nothing boring about this rare, vintage BMW. Take a trip back in time with this clip, it's a nice bookend to the Petrolicious E28 5 Series family video we showed you yesterday. News Source: BMW via YouTube BMW Automotive History Performance Classics Videos Sedan

The 570-hp AC Schnitzer ACL2 Concept tries to one-up the M2

AC Schnitzer's new ACL2 concept aims to outdo the BMW M2 at the Geneva Motor Show. To out-muscle the latest M car, the German tuner starts with an M235i and installs the M4's 3.0-liter inline-six. The company also turns up the power to 570 horsepower – a healthy upgrade over 365 hp from the M2's 3.0-liter. The power bump lets the ACL2 reach 62 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 205 miles per hour, AC Schnitzer claims. Those figures make the coupe a few tenths quicker than the M2's 4.2-second to 60 mph sprint, but BMW limits its creation to 155 mph. AC Schnitzer's long list of upgrades makes the impressive performance possible. To get the most out of the engine, the company installs a carbon fiber intake. It also replaces the most of the exhaust, including the downpipe, catalytic converter and tailpipes. Carbon-ceramic brake discs make sure a driver can control so much power, and the company fits a fully adjustable suspension to aid handling. The ACL2's body is too loud for our tastes even through the subdued dark green paint, but the extensive use of carbon fiber parts should keep weight down. AC Schnitzer adds a road-scraping front splitter with canards at each corner. The rear has a similarly aggressive diffuser and huge wing. The wider fenders also add 5.5 inches to the coupe's width, and 20-inch wheels sit underneath them. The ACL2 doesn't get to challenge the M2 on the Autobahn yet because AC Schnitzer says it's just a concept. The coupe exists simply for the company's product development. However, if you want to put all of these bits together, the final cost would be 149,000 euros ($161,500 at current exchange rates), the tuner claims. Related Video: