M boss talks about possible M5 Touring, X3 M and X4 M

In the Detroit Auto Show 2015, the new BMW M boss Franciscus van Meel talks about a possible future M xDrive, M5 Touring or an X3 M and X4 M.

“I had the same question the other way around in my former job. Why not explore an RS sedan? BMW is not a Touring-focused group. Popularity is still stronger on the sedan side, so when people connect to BMW, it’s sedan. What people connect to the company next door [Audi], it’s another body shape.”

“That body shape is not popular in China and not popular in the US – and as the US is our biggest market, we would be making a model that our biggest market does not want.”

Van Meel ruled out the possibility of an M3 Touring or M5 Touring, but did not close is doors for a future M version based on the X3 and X4 SUVs. When challenged on the idea of an X3M or X4M, he simply commented: “That might be a business opportunity.”

Source: AutoExpress