BMW X5 M a possibility, M1 unlikely

It seems every time we hear BMW will or won't build more "M" cars, another report comes along to the contrary. In March, BMW CEO Helmut Panke said a BMW M7 was a possibility, despite years of saying BMW wouldn't build such a large "M" car. Then, early this week, BMW North America's Howard Mosher said BMW would not expand its "M"? lineup to all of its models, as Mercedes has done with its AMG unit. Now, BMW's M division boss Ulrich Bruhnke has told Australia's Wheels magazine that BMW is seriously considering an X5 M, but is unlikely to build an M1.





He said there are four steps to creating a new M car: the original idea, development of that idea, a business case, and building of a prototype. In the case of the X5, "we are at step two,"? he said.

According to Bruhnke, BMW got as far as building an X5 M prototype five years ago, but nothing came of it. With an all-new X5 right around the corner, the possibility of an X5 M is again on the table.

As for an M version of the 1-Series, don't count on it, says Bruhnke. He said it would cost as much as the M3 to develop, and wouldn't necessarily be worth the investment. What's more, he said, "the 130i has enough power." BMW is expected to sell coupe and convertible versions of the 1-Series in North America.