Photo: Screenshot from Youtube
A lot of people laughed at Hyundai and called them copycats when they announced their ’N’ division that would enhance regular cars to be proper race-spec models. Seeing as the similarities with BMW’s M division were pretty hard not to notice, we went down that road too. However, the recent developments over in Munich might change the way we perceive the South Koreans.
Albert Biermann, the Vice President of BMW M Engineering has just left the German company for a role with Hyundai, in a stunning move that casused shock in the industry. After Herbert Diess also left to take up a position over at Volkswagen, this is the second blow the Munich-based manufacturer takes in the last month.
Biermann has been with BMW since the 1980s and he even worked on the legendary BMW E30 M3, the one car that defines the M spirit better than ever. Now, he will be taking up the role of Head of Vehicle Test & High Performance Development in Namyang, Korea. To put it simply, he will oversee the development of high-performance Kia and Hyundai models to come.
In the meantime, BMW now has Roberto Fedelli from Ferrari in its corner. This is the Italian brand’s former chief engineer and the one the oversaw the creation of the LaFerrari and other iconic models coming from Maranello during the last two decades. Our guess is he’s going to take up where Biermann left off.
Other changes include bringing ex Audi quattro chief, Franciscus van Meel in for the same M division and Harald Kruger replacing long-time BMW CEO, Dr. Norbert Reithofer that will be moving on to the position of BMW Chairman.
All these moves are hinting at a couple of interesting new models to come out of the Motorsport division, including all-wheel drive M5 and M6 models alongside a hybrid supercar based on the i8.
Biermann has been with BMW since the 1980s and he even worked on the legendary BMW E30 M3, the one car that defines the M spirit better than ever. Now, he will be taking up the role of Head of Vehicle Test & High Performance Development in Namyang, Korea. To put it simply, he will oversee the development of high-performance Kia and Hyundai models to come.
In the meantime, BMW now has Roberto Fedelli from Ferrari in its corner. This is the Italian brand’s former chief engineer and the one the oversaw the creation of the LaFerrari and other iconic models coming from Maranello during the last two decades. Our guess is he’s going to take up where Biermann left off.
Other changes include bringing ex Audi quattro chief, Franciscus van Meel in for the same M division and Harald Kruger replacing long-time BMW CEO, Dr. Norbert Reithofer that will be moving on to the position of BMW Chairman.
All these moves are hinting at a couple of interesting new models to come out of the Motorsport division, including all-wheel drive M5 and M6 models alongside a hybrid supercar based on the i8.
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