Interesting Car&Driver article

[bryce]

i searched but couldn't find this article posted here yet

article link

Kay Segler, once the brand chief at BMW’s Mini operations, has been in charge of the high-performance M division for more than a year now, and it appears he’s making good on his promise to sharpen the in-house tuner’s offerings.

Over the past few years, the M division strayed from its hard-core enthusiast origins. The first examples were the V-10–powered M5 and M6. While both were undeniably quick and capable, the clunky and unsatisfying automated manual gearboxes that the M division tried to jam down the throats of buyers let M fans down. Eventually—perhaps grudgingly—a three-pedal manual made its way into the M5 and the M6, but, ironically, it simply didn’t work all that well in those cars (you couldn’t fully shut off the stability control, for example).

And then came the sport-utility vehicles: the X5 M and the X6 M. While they might be among the brashest and quickest SUVs on the market, they signify perhaps the greatest break with the M division’s long-held principles of lightweight, high-revving, naturally aspirated engines coupled to manual transmissions. In one fell swoop, the X5 M and the X6 M broke all of what had been commandments.
In May 2009, the big chair at the M division was dusted off for Segler, an affable and successful marketer during his time as brand chief at Mini. We thought an old-school engineer might have been a better choice to bring the M division back to its roots, and there was some concern that Segler’s marketing background might tempt him to exploit the brand instead of refocusing on its core values. But two upcoming models developed under Segler have us thinking that he may not have been a bad choice after all.

Later this year, Segler’s M division will launch the M3 GTS. Limited to 150 units, this lighter and more powerful M3 will get a 4.4-liter version of the M3’s 4.0-liter V-8. Power rises from 414 horsepower to 444, and torque grows from 295 pound-feet to 325. Despite an added roll cage, the GTS coupe weighs 150 pounds less than a similarly equipped M3. Our only beef is that a traditional manual gearbox is not available. Instead, the M DCT seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is standard.

Otherwise, the GTS is seriously hard-core. To shave pounds, BMW switched to titanium mufflers, used a lightened center console and door trim, and has gone so far as to delete the rear seats and the air conditioning. The rear and rear-side windows are lightweight polycarbonate. There is no audio system; there is no meaningful sound insulation. You know what’s next: The GTS won’t be coming to the States. In Europe, the M3 GTS will cost 115,000 euros (about $140,000, which is more than twice as much as a standard M3).

Segler’s next project, an M version of the 1-series, should reach a much larger audience. The compact coupe (it won’t be called the M1 out of respect for the early-’80s M1 supercar) will get the same twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter six that’s in the recently introduced 335is, tuned to make about 335 horsepower. It will be governed to a 155-mph top speed, but BMW may offer the option to raise that to 170 mph. This smallest of the M cars will assert itself with a wide front air intake; a wider track with larger wheels, brakes, and tires; a purposeful rear spoiler; and four exhaust pipes. Internally it’s being called “Pyrat” (pirate), and it’s designed to make the M brand more accessible to neophytes. It could sell for less than $50,000 and be the successor to the early, beloved M3s.
But one thing is clear: The naturally aspirated M car is a thing of the past. For years, the M division extolled the responsiveness of  high-revving, naturally aspirated engines. While a turbocharged engine may lack the precise feel of a non-turbo engine when driven at the limit, the latest direct-injection turbo engines are nearly as good. Segler assures us, “Turbocharging technology has made such progress that it now feels right to use it in an M vehicle.” We’re inclined to agree, but the turbos probably won’t be as high-revving as the engines they’ll replace.

So it’s no surprise to us that the next M5, due to be launched in the spring of 2011, will shed the naturally aspirated, 5.0-liter V-10 in favor of a turbocharged, 4.4-liter V-8—the very engine that powers the X5 M and the X6 M. A new M6, with the same V-8, will follow. And the next M3—still a few years away—might return to six-cylinder power: A turbocharged inline-six has a strong possibility of replacing today’s naturally aspirated V-8. All of this strikes us as good news for fans of torque but bad news for fans of engines that rev beyond 8000 rpm. We shall see.

[UdubBadger]

interesting

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

interesting

Not really, we've known this for months, but Scott has said that we are looking at 360 PS, not 335.

[UdubBadger]

to be honest I was more interested with the M3 info

[ACZakka325i]

Seriously disappointed that the motor is just an uprated 335 motor.

That and the part about it having less than 350hp.

[MarkR171]

UNDER 50k? That could be interesting.

[JimmyT]

Originally Posted by ACZakka325i

Seriously disappointed that the motor is just an uprated 335 motor.

That and the part about it having less than 350hp.

I firmly believe that the article has misinformation in it about engine power. Scott has stated engine power of 350-370 HP!!

[ridin135]

if its just an n54 then this car was a waste

[MarkR171]

I wouldn't say it's a waste. It's a 135 with much better handling, wider fenders to fit wider tires, factory LSD, factory warranted horsepower increase, and obviously other improvements most likely in the form of aerodynamics, brakes, etc.

People would spend more money on aftermarket parts and labor to build a 135 with the same improvements that the M1 will have. Plus, the M1 will have all of those parts under BMW warranty.

*I know it's not an M1, but it's just easier to type M1*

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by ridin135

if its just an n54 then this car was a waste

Scott said is would have a S55...the article blows. If you read thru most of the main 2 threads, you can glean more info than C&D and the other rags have written in a yr about the 1 series M.

[shawshank772]

The main dissapointment is that it isnt a true M engine. They are simply slapping the n54 or n55 in and boosting it. Many of us here already have that kind of power. Yes I know it will have a wider wheel base, m suspension blah blah blah. But its kind of like putting a lot of makeup on a pig. This is partially the reason I purchased an M3 and didnt wait for the 1m or what ever it will be called. I did really want to have the "year one of the one" 135i, as well as the first year of the 1m.

[///Mangler]

Sounds like another S52B32 E36M3...........

T

[BrokenVert]

That c&d article has been discussed to exhaustion on the m1/1m/whatever the hell it's called threads.

Since when do we believe what c&d says, again?

[twenzel]

^^ no kidding. I wouldn't believe anything anyone says until we hear the official announcement from BMW.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by ///Mangler

Sounds like another S52B32 E36M3...........

T

Nothing wrong with those. To be fair, they're holding up better than the true M version, which had more problems than the S54, not to mention the first and worst generation of DSG.

Whether it's the N54 or N55 that the engine ends up being based on, will it really be any different than the X5/M or X6/M? It seems that with rumors of a turbo M3, the days of unique S-series motors are ending. I guess I got in on the front end!

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Nothing wrong with those. To be fair, they're holding up better than the true M version, which had more problems than the S54, not to mention the first and worst generation of DSG.

dsg? Do you mean smg? Although I thought that the E36s got a slushy in auto trim

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

dsg? Do you mean smg? Although I thought that the E36s got a slushy in auto trim

Oops, still a three pedal person and lost my acronyms. Yeah, meant SMG, it was available on Euro-M's, while the US models got the semi-lame motor and actual slush boxes.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Oops, still a three pedal person and lost my acronyms. Yeah, meant SMG, it was available on Euro-M's, while the US models got the semi-lame motor and actual slush boxes.

Gotcha. Europe gets the best stuff...

[BrokenVert]

Scott just responded to this article

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...359547&page=14

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by shawshank772

The main dissapointment is that it isnt a true M engine. They are simply slapping the n54 or n55 in and boosting it. Many of us here already have that kind of power. Yes I know it will have a wider wheel base, m suspension blah blah blah. But its kind of like putting a lot of makeup on a pig. This is partially the reason I purchased an M3 and didnt wait for the 1m or what ever it will be called. I did really want to have the "year one of the one" 135i, as well as the first year of the 1m.

You do know that this engine will be the basis for the next M3? So, it is a true M engine, it will be called the S55...I would think that a M3 buyer/owner would have known this.

By your logic the 4.4 turbo engine is not a real "M" engine, even though now it makes a ton more hp in the X5/X6 M and more so in the F10 M5....