The 30 and e36 offer a nice bulletproof chassis and engine for spec racing. Current BMWs seem to focus more on luxury and technology. Are there any plans to bring to market a reliable (non turbo non technology laden) car that will appeal to BMW roots and lay the ground work for a potential spec series car?

Is there even a role for a car like this in the modern BMW world?

1) What’s the final word on KERS in the M5? Some reports stated that BMW would be hesitant to use the initially planned boost system because it only adds power, but doesn’t improve fuel economy.

2) What’s the transmission of choice for the upcoming ///M models? I suppose manual transmissions will come to an end, sadly. Is DCT to stay for longer or are we seeing new techs like CVT?

3) When will DPC be offered in RWD cars? I think it would even be an improvement over the mechanical LSD in the ///M models. Is this planned for the F10 M5 and/or for AG cars like the next 3-series?

I just rather BMW could come up with their own path versus just follow along Mercedes dogma (see the X M’s)

1) Will the current emphasis on turbo engines mean that ///M engines will focus more on torque (and peter out around 5,000rpm) or will they still maintain their rev happy natures with the turbos?

2) What is the future of the left pedal clutch (and stick) at BMW and ///M? Will it be phased out for new technology or kept around for the purist?

Martin, how do you find that middle ground between the car that you would want and the car that the consumer wants?

Mercedes and Porcshe had high power suvs. BMW felt that it cound not build a suv that desereved the m badge. Now they have suv’s that can lap as fast as a e46 m3.

Dont forget were m started with the m1 mid engined 2 seater, what was there next car a 5 seater 4 saloon m5 wasnt that a move in historical direction. I bet you would of been against the E30 m3 because it was only a 4 pot and not a inline 6. Why dont people like change. Remeber were BMW started of as a engine builder then put its engines in bikes it also made. The first car to wear a BMW badge was a austin 7 built under license. This is BMW moving with the times, doing what its needs to stay independent and grow.

BMW will build an z4 m when the m3 is at the end of it life cycle about mid 2012 or even earlier because BMW has an gt3 z4 with the engine from the m3 in, Under fia regs race cars and engines have to be based on the road version. Why would bmw not want the m z4 to be faster then the m3. The z3 m coupe was faster then the e36 m3, also the z4 m coupe was faster then the e46 m3.

Second, Why did BMW go to a single turbocharger on the 535 engine versus two? Is the single as good, or is it better?

I second the question about the rumors of the Z2. Also any chance of the e89 ever being produced with a fixed roof since they have developed one for racing. Still think the e89 being stripped of a lot of weight, with a fixed roof and the M3′s V8 would be hands down a dream come true. Although this would never happen as the M3′s rather portly weight would not likely like to be outclassed on the track by the Z4 lol.

1 Why doesn’t BMW sell the smaller (engine) cars in the US that they do sell in Europe?

2 Why won’t BMW buy Volvo, so they can share more parts and share R&D costs. They also can provid better resistant against VW, who is getting bigger and bigger.

Any solid details on the M1 engine that can be confirmed?

I believe there is a real market for an ///M-developed simple, decontented, driving focused RWD coupe with a high-revving NA four banger, manual tranny, direct feelsome steering, & mechanical M diff.

BMW prides themselves on superior safety features. Why do they skimp on something so basic such as this? US customers deserve the same safety features as the rest of the world.