We acquired to take a seat down with BMW M boss, Frank van Meel, on the 2025 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Topic issues ranged far, however stayed decidedly removed from a few of the heavier headlines of the weekend. For instance, the M2 CS shock go to or the Speedtop Idea debut. We coated some acquainted favorites, although, together with the brand new (and previous) M5, hybridization and electrification, and hypercars (sort of).
M5 Demand is Holding Robust
The i4 M50 is the best-selling M car automobile by quantity. And the M2 is the best-selling full M. However the M5 is placing up spectacular numbers, in line with van Meel. He says there’s a “very, very excessive demand for the brand new M5,” and that the mannequin is “skyrocketing in manufacturing, numbers and gross sales. It’s [demand] not happening.” What may be extra stunning is that Europe’s orders are predominantly for the sedan model. Within the US, the Touring is charming extra clients. Frank says that worldwide, it’s “kind of 50/50.”
On a associated notice, Frank additionally fielded some questions across the M5’s weight, unsurprisingly. Whereas acknowledging the automobile’s weight, he mentions that “it’s faster than its predecessor on the tracks.” He attests that weight was the “solely commerce off” BMW needed to make for making the M5 “easy to drive,” citing improved gasoline economic system, extra energy, decrease emissions, and a easy powerband.
And Frank says BMW M handled the M5’s weight downside as they’d in racing. Wider wheels, a wider observe with wider bodywork, lively rear steering, and positioning the batteries low on the car assist make the automobile nonetheless behave like an M5. “We all know we’re going to place weight within the automobile,” he stated, but it surely was calculated. It was the price of doing enterprise to ensure that BMW M to make use of the V8 engine.
Making The Case For Hybrid and Electrical M Automobiles
Frank isn’t tied to sure drivetrains in his M vehicles. “M — since 1972, once we have been based as M, or Motorsport GmbH — has at all times been motorsport and emotion. And each time you sit in an M, and also you drive an M, you say, that is an M…it’s all about emotion and motorsport. And that is kind of unbiased from the drivetrain.” He’s proper, too. He discusses the engine rotations the M3 has seen by way of the years — from revy four-cylinder to screaming six- and eight-pots to the turbocharged S55 and S58 of newer reminiscence. And each time, with out fail, “it drove like an M3 and everybody was comfortable, and we bought greater than earlier than.” Proper once more, Frank.
Lengthy story quick: he feels the identical method about electrification and hybridization. “What we’re presently doing with electrification, as soon as that involves the market, you’ll say ‘I didn’t see that coming’.” He compares it to the F90 M5’s debut, the place some heard “all-wheel drive” and ran scared. “I stated the identical with the M xDrive once we got here to the final technology M5, that it’s not four-wheel drive. It’s rear-wheel drive with extra traction, and everybody was afraid that it will simply go straight ahead, no rear wheel bias dynamics anymore.” After all, now, we all know that van Meel was largely correct when he stated that. “Now with electrification, I can solely say it’s going to be a typical M it’s simply going to be a lot faster,” he says.
Differentiating BMW M EVs From Different Automobiles
One large problem all automakers face is separating their efficiency EV choices from the competitors. Within the nuclear arms race that’s electrified powertrains, 1,000 horsepower merely isn’t sufficient. “Magical substances is a pleasant terminology,” van Meel begins. “That you must have this innovation, as a result of individuals know what electrical vehicles drive these days, and should you have a look at that, you say, that’s good, however that’s possibly not, nonetheless not precisely what I’m on the lookout for.” With fewer perceptible cues, like audible downshifting, EVs make it powerful to know the way fast you’re going — particularly on a race observe. “However should you look down, [at the speedometer], you lose,” Frank says. “You want a greater integration of the motive force into the automobile in order that you already know the place you might be and you might be in management.”
A central part to creating BMW M EVs drive the way in which an M automobile ought to is engineering. Frank says the concept BMW M is making an M model of the upcoming Neue Klasse isn’t fairly appropriate. “That’s mistaken, as a result of every part we want for M within the Neue Klasse needed to be built-in in the entire setup of the Neue Klasse proper from the beginning.” Frank claims “if it’s not within the structure, it’s typically not possible so as to add it.” That’s the place BMW’s Coronary heart of Pleasure is available in. It’s relevant for each car, whether or not it’s acquired a single electrical motor or 4.
BMW Hypercar? Eh…
The hypercar (nonetheless) isn’t occurring, not less than not any time quickly. The query cited BMW’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) involvement because the potential case for a roadgoing hypercar. “Not essentially,” van Meel begins. “What you at all times attempt to do at M is to make vehicles which are which are as shut as potential to racing. That’s why we’re in racing,” he says. Speak about a non-answer, but it surely doesn’t actually seem like van Meel is entertaining the thought.
