BMW has confirmed it will launch a new brand at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, BMW M Performance Automobiles. Akin to Audi's 'S' range of vehicles, BMW plans to launch the new brand to leverage the expertise of its M GmbH outfit - essentially offering more affordable (if watered down) performance cars.
"The BMW M Performance Automobiles benefit from the full expertise of BMW M GmbH," said Dr Friedrich Nitschke, President of BMW M GmbH.
Both petrol and diesel models are on the cards as well as all-wheel drive. It is understood that BMW M Performance Automobiles will initially launch the new brand with a pair of stump-pulling diesel models - the M 550d xDrive sedan and X6 M50d xDrive SUV.
The new 'M' 550d engines are believed to be inline six-cylinder units with augmented with a trio of turbochargers, pumping out an estimated 275kW/740Nm.
BMW Australia is expected to begin selling its first BMW M Performance Automobiles vehicle locally, possibly as early as July or August this year. A BMW Australia spokesperson told motoring.com.au that the X6 M50d is likely to be the first cab off the rank, and that other vehicles would follow. Expect the BMW 1 and 3 Series to get some M love as well.
Vehicles such as the M3, M5 and M6 - the latter also expected to make its global debut in Geneva this year - will remain the purists' choice as the range-topping rear-wheel drive models, while the BMW M Performance Automobiles will cover a larger range of vehicles.
"We are targeting our efforts at customers looking for more emotionality and more performance, but who don't want to forgo the everyday usability of their cars," stated Dr Nitschke.
The M boss revealed the new brand would include "...a wide variety of model series, as well as both petrol and diesel-engined variants." He added that BMW's "xDrive" all-wheel drive systems would also be offered on most models, a la Audi's quattro systems on its S range.
According to a media statement, BMW M Performance Automobiles represents "a totally new model category none of its rivals can offer".
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