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Breaking: M President Says Nein to X3M, Z4M and F11 M5 Touring

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We bring some news directly from the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. We had an opportunity to chat with BMW M President Dr. Friedrich Nitschke earlier today at the show and contrary to earlier reports from BMW insider SCOTT26, Dr. Nitschke ruled out M versions of the current X3 or Z4 for the current generation.

When asked about a possible Z4M, Dr. Nitschke said: "In the current generation we won't bring a Z4M, but for the successor we're thinking about it." Dr. Nitschke went on to say in regards to the X3M: "Also, with the current X3, we won't bring an M version, but with the successor generation we'll see."

The F11 M5 Touring was also ruled out. Again, coming directly from Dr. Nitschke: "with the current M5 we won't bring a touring".

This comes as bad news for E85/6 Z4M owners and E61 M5 owners who were hoping to make a switch to the latest generation M models. But, let's not ignore the underlying message which is BMW acknowledging a look into all possible M models for successor generations. We also wouldn't be surprised if there were M Performance models of the X3 or the Z4, but there's no official word or hint from BMW on the matter yet.

Stay tuned for more coverage from the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, including our full interview with M President Dr. Nitschke.

See Our Full Geneva 2012 Coverage List:

AC Schnitzer M5 (F10) Debut
Hamman F10 M5
BMW X6 M50d World Premiere
F20 125i M Performance with Slick Steering Wheel
BMW M Performance Parts Launches With Full Parts Catalog
BMW M6 Coupe (F13) World Premiere
Breaking: M President Says Nein to X3M, Z4M and F11 M5 Touring
6 Series Gran Coupe Makes World Debut
Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Debuts Along with B3 GT3 and Uprated B5
AC Schnitzer F30 328i
F30 328i M Sport
6 Series Gran Coupe in Alpine White

[Beemw1M]

Great. Please don't turn BMW to Mercedes. Great decision.

[hks786]

Well, I didn't expect a Z4M but I would have liked to see one. Glad to hear no X3M lol. think M5 Touring would have been nice I quite like the new F11. It's not a car I would buy but still.

Also, why did they change their mind? I thought X3M seemed certain.

[shanecarmaster1]

M3, M5, M6, supercar. That's all they should have.

Great decision BMW!

[767IJP]

Excellent news. M is a brand that need not be diluted.

M cannot be all things to all people. It sounds like they are realizing this. Lets hope they stay true to the Badge.

[PKumarM3]

Originally Posted by Beemw1M

Great. Please don't turn BMW to Mercedes. Great decision.

that be a good thing! mercedes once made all their cars look alike and BMW said they would never do that. then audi did it. bmw stuck to that.

now bmw makes all their cars look alike, where as Mercedes and Audi want differentiation between their models.


bmw has jumped the shark. the new 3 is HIDEOUS, the 5 looks good, the new 7 looks obnoxious and ginormous.

i would take a benz AMG over any car BMW makes except the m3.

c63amg < m3
e63amg > M5
S63amg > 760?
ml63amg > x5m
cl63/sl63 > m6

gone are the days of BMW being "better handling". go drive a new e63 amg and honestly tell me that it can't dance as well if not better than any bmw.

[kmarei]

OMG
BMW will allow Audi to have a model without a direct competitor from BMW?
if Audi release the S Q5 Bmw won't match it?
that's shocking!

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by PKumarM3

that be a good thing! mercedes once made all their cars look alike and BMW said they would never do that. then audi did it. bmw stuck to that.

now bmw makes all their cars look alike, where as Mercedes and Audi want differentiation between their models.


bmw has jumped the shark. the new 3 is HIDEOUS, the 5 looks good, the new 7 looks obnoxious and ginormous.

i would take a benz AMG over any car BMW makes except the m3.

c63amg < m3
e63amg > M5
S63amg > 760?
ml63amg > x5m
cl63/sl63 > m6

gone are the days of BMW being "better handling". go drive a new e63 amg and honestly tell me that it can't dance as well if not better than any bmw.

you lost me at "e63amg > M5"

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by kmarei

you lost me at "e63amg > M5"

E63 with the M157 has more tuning potential. Doesn't hurt the E63 is lighter, a couple magazines believe steering feel and handling is better in the E63.

[positiveions]

I guess it is not the time yet, or maybe they have too much on their plate.

[M3_WC]

If they are going to make any M-suv it should be on the lighter more nimble X3 platform.

They don't want to eat into the already limited sales numbers of the X5M/X6M. It is a niche low volume seller.

At a minimum the X3M would push twice as many units.

[James T. Kirk]

I think it's smart they tone down M-ing the whole line.
.

[JUSTIN335]

Originally Posted by shanecarmaster1

M3, M5, M6, supercar. That's all they should have.

Great decision BMW!

Exactly. But I think the M suv line has grown on me. But I think that's because I love the look of the lci x5

[Bols]

No M touring VS M performance line with m badges on regular line cars? I mean I know they only sold about 1k tourings but bear in mind they didn't even offer it in one of their biggest markets at the time -_-

They seem to do things like windows. Good one generation, weird the next, Good the next, and so on

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

E63 with the M157 has more tuning potential. Doesn't hurt the E63 is lighter, a couple magazines believe steering feel and handling is better in the E63.

Some people, like myself, will never look at an automatic car.

[Whostheboss]

Originally Posted by shanecarmaster1

M3, M5, M6, supercar. That's all they should have.

Great decision BMW!

Originally Posted by 767IJP

Excellent news. M is a brand that need not be diluted.

M cannot be all things to all people. It sounds like they are realizing this. Lets hope they stay true to the Badge.

definitely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EdM5]

Damn, the M5 F11 would have been so sick.

[Z4MLover2012]

I would love to see a new version of the Z4M Coupe but I'll be happy with what I've got.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by Beemw1M

Great. Please don't turn BMW to Mercedes. Great decision.

+1, except they will do it next gen

[Mako]

This is very sad news to me, on both the X3M and Z4M.

I was really looking foward to an X3M to replace my X3 in a few years but oh well not too big of a deal, although it makes a lot more sense than a X5M or X6M (weight and size the X3 makes a lot more sense to make a full blown M). At least bring a Diesel M Performance to the US!!!

The Z4M is really sad, not that I am in the market for one, but having owned a Z3M and Z4M Coupe, those were the cars that got me into the "M" brand along with my fathers 2002 M3. For those talking about diluting the M Brand and glad they aren't making these, how in the world could a Z4M Dilute the M Brand? that is just silly. It does make sense they aren't doing it with this generation as the Z4 has really climbed into a whole new market, we used to see tons of Z3s and Z4s on the road before the current generation but the price jump really took the car into a different market completely, a market that might not care if there is an M or not, imagine what it would cost, $90K? Hopefully if they ever do release a Z2 Coupe that will get full blown M Treatment and not just M Performance. Imagine a new M3 turbo engine in a small Z2 coupe (like the size of the past Z4 coupe) although I realize it will probably be more like a 1M engine, 350 HP or so.

Also does this mean no chance of a X4M? again makes a lot more sense than a X6M... I really think BMW just wanted the new M3 engine to debut in the M3 and not in the X3 (like the M5/M6 engine debuting in the X5M...)

[kgroschi]

Originally Posted by PKumarM3

i would take a benz AMG over any car BMW makes except the m3.

c63amg < m3
e63amg > M5
S63amg > 760?
ml63amg > x5m
cl63/sl63 > m6

gone are the days of BMW being "better handling". go drive a new e63 amg and honestly tell me that it can't dance as well if not better than any bmw.

Seriously? I mean have you drivin all those AMGs? I have (including the SLS AMG) and non of those are as responsive as the BMW Ms. For example, you pull on the shift paddle and it won't shift right away. Especially if you shift down and click the - paddle 3 times, it will only accept 2 clicks. And no, it's not because the gear I won't is too low for the speed, it just doesn't react as good.

As for the CLS63 AMG I can understand why somebody would take that over the M5. That car has the same disabilities, but it just looks amazing. Most beautiful car out there.

[kyleb350]

I actually would have liked to see the Z4M again (it being the lightest M car as well as a roadster).