BMW M5: No Touring or AWD, Manual Coming to US

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⌕ Only the US wants a manual
BMW’s M division is moving faster than ever these days, as it has to cope with competition that is more fierce than ever, as well as with a market that now also wants greener cars, not just fast one.

In between all these concerns, the M divisions has to make plans for the various details of its new models and we are here now to zoom in on the F10 M5. In a recent interview for Autoblog, Albert Biermann, the Head of Product Development at BMW M GmbH, let some interesting things about the Power War fighter slip.

First of all, the US market will get a manual transmission version of the new M5. However, the company won’t keep offering manuals for ever, as it considers that there are better uses for its resources.

He explained that "only the U.S. wants it" and "I don't know how long we'll be able to keep doing this, but at some point, we'll just have to say no" to manual transmissions in certain models.

Next, the executive said that the low sales registered by the Touring (wagon) version of the previous generation M5 have sealed the model’s fate: their estate will be canceled. He also wanted to put an end to all the rumors about an AWD M5: there won’t be one.

Biermann also talked about other models, such as a Z4 M, a car that seems to be desired by the company but which has a weak business case, also letting us know that M-badged EVs are still far from becoming a reality.

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filed under: BMW BMW M5 f10 bmw m5 AWD manual gearbox US market

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comments written so far

On 25 October 2011 at 18:42 UTC, Nhock2 said:

BMW needs abusiness case for a Z4M?
You can't find a Z4M-Coupe. As soon as one is listed for sale it is gone.
What more needs to be said?

On 27 December 2011 at 14:48 UTC, MCUSA said:

"only the U.S. wants it" is your excuse? Excuse me, BMW, but, if you want to build greener cars, don't manual transmissions still get better gas mileage than automatic ones? Plus I thought the M5 was a drivers car, I mean, maybe it CAN be without a manual transmission, but it sure doesn't sound QUITE right without one. Oh and lastly, this whole thing about "artificial engine noise", is that really more expensive to develop than these adjustable exhausts that some manufacturers have been developing?