Corporate communications manager Piers Scott says the next few years for the German brand will be exciting. It all begins this month when BMW completes the Z4 upgrade with the addition of a fourth model.
The Z4 351is will cost $129,900 but have "substantially more power" with an overboost function that places its output between the Z4 351i and a Z4M. However, Australia won't be getting a Z4M. Instead, the Z4 351is will get an M body kit. It will be followed in the next few weeks by special package updates for the M3.
In the next month, the X1 finally gets two rear-wheel-drive (sDrive) models, plus another all-wheel-drive (xDrive) model and two new engine variants. The sDrive 180i will cost $45,700, the 20d sDrive $51,500 and the xDrive 25i is $56,500.
In the last quarter of the year the updated 5 Series Touring adopts two new diesel siblings, the 520d and 535d. All 5 Series Touring models will also get the M Sport package.
The big news for BMW is the new X3 arriving early next year. It will be the first BMW with auto transmission featuring auto stop-start technology.
Scott says sales of the current X3 are still strong despite nearing the end of its model life. While not yielding sales figures as big as the X3, another major launch for BMW next year is the 1 Series M car.
However, BMW will not call it an M1 for obvious reasons.
At the moment, BMW is referring to the project as "Pyrat", but a final name has not yet been decided. Scott says the new M5 could arrive by the end of 2011 or more likely early 2012.
BMW's Gran Coupe, revealed at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show, has been given the go-ahead for production. The four-door, four-seat "coupe" is designed to fill a gap in its line-up and take on the Mercedes CLS.
"They haven't said yet whether it will be a 6 Series or a rejuvenated 8 Series," Scott says. "There is no timing yet for its release, but best guess is 2012."
With the introduction of the Mini Countryman, industry rumours point to BMW developing smaller versions of its 1 Series and X1.
"Will they be called the 0 Series or X0? I guess the possibility of those names you can't rule out and you can't rule in," Scott says. "All I can say is BMW shows enormous potential below the 1 Series level. Probably not for some time, though."
He says such a move would probably follow the electric Megacity car which is a sub-1 Series size, yet as tall as an X3. It is slated for release in 2013.
"There will be a lot more diversification in the Mini brand, than BMW," Scott says. "BMW will always have higher volume sales, but you are seeing a lot more concepts under the Mini brand, such as the Speedster or Roadster Coupe and the new Countryman."
