Report: BMW’s Dr. Nitschke wants 1-Series M-Coupe successor, confirms no AWD for M5/M6, M3 maybe called M4

BMW enthusiast website BMWBlog.com reportedly received the scoop on some exciting new information surrounding the famous Roundel. After sitting down with BMW M’s CEO, Dr. Friedrich Nitschke for an interview, BMWBlog reports that BMW will be producing a successor to the greatly loved BMW 1-Series M-Coupe.

“We stopped the production of the 1 Series M Coupe in the middle of last year and we launched in Germany the M135i. It’s a new category for us, the M Performance,” Dr. Nitschke told BMWBlog. “At the moment we are thinking of what can we do with an entry-level car for the M brand. We haven’t made a decision yet, but the 1 M coupe was so successful, that in my opinion, I am absolutely sure we will build a successor.”

Check out our original post on the BMW 4 Series Coupe Concept.

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Right now, Nitschke further commented by saying that BMW is currently surveying its current lineup and that it is important for BMW to differentiate its M cars from the top of the line non-M cars, mostly in the performance division.

“This is what you have to do segment by segment, because you don’t want to have any internal overlap and fight for the same customer. We want different customers with different aspirations or expectations,” elaborated Nitschke.

BMWBlog also inquired about the possibility of seeing xDrive all-wheel drive on the BMW M6 Gran Coupe as well as the M5 and the M6. Though, because of the huge increase in weight, Nitschke promised that all-wheel drive will be kept away from all of the M5 and M6 models.

In the same interview, BMWBlog remained inquisitive and even inquired about the possibility of seeing more M cars in the North American market, specifically special edition M cars such as the M3 CSL and the M3 CRT. And in his response, Dr. Nitschke said that BMW M by principle alone wants “to develop M cars for all markets in the world.” But the biggest challenge is to consider all of the varying regulations and requirements set forth by government safety and health. Sounds like it’s pretty much the same ‘ol song when it comes to the story of getting some of Europe’s bespoke and hotter M cars.

But still, with this being the age of automotive globalization, there’s absolutely no reason to keep your fingers crossed. Nitschke was also kind enough to share a detail or two about the up coming M3. Though Nitschke didn’t specify much, he did acknowledge the rumors about the BMW M3’s powerplant such as a “tri-turbo setup” and said that they’re defunct as BMW M has “made a decision” about the M3’s powerplant and denied further comment.

Lastly, Nitschke also BMWBlog’s question about the recent BMW 4-Series Concept, which has been perceived to be the future 3-Series coupe successor. That said, they asked: if the 4-Series will be the name for the 3-Series coupe, will the M3 coupe become the “M4?”

“Well it’s pretty easy,” Nitschke said, “If there would be a 4-Series and we were to produce an M Car on that basis, then it would be called an M4.”

– By: Chris Chin

Source: BMWBlog