Baby M on the way? M fans step in...

VWSpeed

New member
According to Autocar, a baby M is on the way. This is good news (if they build it) given the M3 and M5 have become bloated over the years. Keep it RWD BMW, no FWD stuff is required here.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-plots-new-junior-m-car

A thick shroud of secrecy surrounds BMW’s junior saloon plans. However, Autocar can reveal that the firm is mulling over two disparate strategies.

The first revolves around the existing rear-wheel-drive 1-series. Already offered in three-door and five-door body styles, it will be bolstered next year by the arrival of second-generation coupé and convertible models, to be sold under a new 2-series nomenclature. Proposals call for the rear-drive underpinnings of the 2-series, which will have a slightly longer rear overhang than that of their hatchback siblings, to be used for the new 1-series saloon and possibly an entry-level Touring model.

The second strategy involves BMW’s new front-wheel drive platform revealed at the Paris motor show in September as the basis for the Compact Sports Tourer — a concept of the company’s upcoming five-seat MPV rival to the Mercedes B-class.

The steel monocoque ‘UKL1’ structure, which will underpin future Mini models, is also being eyed as a possible basis for the 1–series saloon to compete against the four-door version of the new Audi A3, revealed as a concept at the 2011 Geneva motor show, and the swoopy new Mercedes CLA, previewed at this year’s Beijing motor show as the Compact Sports Coupé. The A3 and CLA are base cars for the S3 and CLA45 AMG.

BMW is already planning an M Performance version of the 2-series coupé, likely to be badged M235i coupé. An open-top version based on the new 2-series convertible is likely to follow. But as with the recently introduced M135i hatch, which is sold in both three-door and five-door body styles, BMW sees potential in offering a more practical M Performance saloon as well.

The shortlisted rear-drive BMW platform supports longitudinal engine mounting, and the front-drive one has been conceived around a transverse engine layout. Although the rear-drive platform is considered to be dynamically superior because of its ability to achieve near-perfect front-to-rear weight distribution, it lacks the interior packaging advantages of the front-drive structure. Both have been engineered to take four-wheel drive.

Cost considerations are also a concern. BMW sources suggest that the added processes involved in producing the rear-drive structure make it up to 15 per cent more expensive than the new front-drive platform. However, they also point out that the rear-drive one currently benefits from greater economies of scale because it shares components with the platform used beneath the 3-series, which is still BMW’s best-selling model.
 
M performance is dumb. Stick with the "is" naming scheme to identify the top tier non-M cars (135is, 335is, etc.). Otherwise you are just bastardizing the M badge.
 
I love BMW's saloons more than anyone here but I really wouldn't see a point to something like this (even for a hatch). The oner M as a "small segment" car should be enough for the "driver" among drivers IMO.
 
It seems that all saloon cars look the same within each luxury brand nowadays...

It's like they come up with one design and just inflate it or deflate it to fill their "series\class"
 
M performance is dumb. Stick with the "is" naming scheme to identify the top tier non-M cars (135is, 335is, etc.). Otherwise you are just bastardizing the M badge.

Agreed 100%. As Clarkson said M stands for Marketing


Sure hope they come up with a proper M version of the rumored 2-series. Would love to see that!
 
Back
Top