Interview with Dr. Kay Segler by Kilometer Magazine

Kilometer Magazine had the chance to interview BMW M Boss Dr. Kay Segler at the BMWCCA Octoberfest event where the press had a glimpse of the 1-Series M Coupe’s partial reveal. Here’s an excerpt from the interview:

KM- We’re seeing a lot of spy photos and hearing a lot of talk about the next M5. How will that car continue the M5 tradition?

Dr. K- It will take the two-cars-in-one approach. The fact that you have really a great day-to-day car, but at the push of an M button you have a race car. This is very clearly the direction for this vehicle.

When you develop a race car, for instance, you don’t look back and say, “OK, how do I develop that car into another one?” You simply ask what you would like to achieve, and you build that car. Period. It’s a different way of approaching it.

We had very clear targets, and we worked toward those targets. Twenty to twenty-five percent less CO2 output, day-to-day car and a pure sports car in one, and a beautiful design as well.

KM- Is it safe to say it will be the most efficient M5 ever?

Dr. K- Yes. Yeah, absolutely. Additionally, what we found with the last M5 was that the US got short-changed a little with the acceleration, because the car was so much fun at highly illegal speeds because of such low speed limits. So the next generation will offer a more linear contribution to fun, from the moment you roll onto the accelerator until you take it to whatever limit you set.

And it’s a beautiful car, I tell you. Wild car! I test drive it whenever possible.

KM- How imperative is it that every BMW model line receives an M variant?

Dr. K- It’s not. There are manufacturers that apply their performance brand to every model line. We only do a car when we are convinced it will be a true M car.

On the SAVs, there was always a vision. From the beginning we thought, “Can there be something like an M version for these models?” There was a high performance X5 already, the 4.8is. Very powerful. The braking was OK, but the in-between was not. Also, the engine was not responsive in the right way. It was just powerful. No one felt it needed an M badge. Only through new technology were we able to build an X5 M. Not just because we could sell them. Only then was it released.

KM- You told us already that you drive an X6 M. Have you owned any M cars personally?

Dr. K- Well, I’ve been with BMW for 22 years now, so I’ve always driven company cars. he two personal cars I own are both Minis, which my boys have taken away from me.

KM- What is your favorite M car of all time?

Dr. K- Well, it’s between the E30 M3, because it was so pure, and the new M3 GTS. They’re very different cars, but both are very honest cars. I like honest cars.

Source: Kilometer Magazine