Seeking to broaden its appeal to customers looking for vehicles with "more emotionality and more performance" but unwilling to forego real-world practicality and affordability to get it, BMW is planning to launch a new line of M Performance Automobiles which will make its first public appearance in Geneva. According to Dr Friedrich Nitschke, President of BMW M GmbH, BMW M Performance Automobiles will offer "exclusive engine variants, noticeably enhanced agility and outstanding precision on the road, plus design laced with emotional appeal."
More than a traditional M Sport Package but less than a full "M" car, each vehicle in this new family will benefit from the "full expertise of BMW M GmbH." Nitschke also indicated that the BMW M Performance Automobiles will encompass a wide range of the automaker’s products, including gasoline and diesel-powered models as well as all-wheel-drive xDrive variations. He envisions the new M Performance Automobiles as modern-day conceptual successors to the original BMW M535i model. Launched in 1980 with similar kinds of performance and cosmetic enhancements, it became an instant and enduring favorite among BMW buyers who wanted a more engaging alternative to a standard 5 Series but who weren’t really interested in stepping up to an M5. "Our aim with the BMW M Performance Automobiles is to continue this tradition," confirmed Nitschke.
