BMW kills the M5! - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

FM · 05-05-2003, 20:06

Taken from the car connection.com

WORLD REPORT: BMW AXES M5, Z8

BMW has announced that it will cease production of two of its top-end models at the end of June. The cars concerned are the high-performance M5 sedan and the Z8 luxury sports car, the Munich company's most expensive model. The main reason for the demise of two prestige products is the fact that the new 5-Series, previewed in TCC last month, will not use the 5.0-liter V-8 that powers these cars, and there is no reasonable alternative power unit in the current range. A secondary reason for killing off the Z8 is that it has been neither an image-builder nor a commercial success.

Story here... http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=5997

ianmcginley · 05-05-2003, 20:09

Wellll sounds like the reverse situation for Ford Australia :)

There is the powerplant (s/c V8 from the SVT Lightning) but no car (yet) to put it in :)

FoMoCo4eva · 05-05-2003, 20:16

the Z8 I can understand....ive never seen one in Australia (although I guess there sia good reason for that...any been delivered??)

The M5 will be back for sure...it mightn't be for a year or two but there is no way BMW will just let merc go crazy with there AMG's and alike.

FoMoCo4eva · 05-05-2003, 20:22

so the 5.0 litre is gone...ah well....that rumoured v10 would do nicely....damn i shudder just thinking aout it.

Does anyone have any idea of teh capacity of it...will it be small ala F1 or a bit more refined for general use?

Bluey · 05-05-2003, 21:04

This seems abit strange? - given that the new 6 Series that is based on the 5 Series plaform is said to have the V10?

Or is this more of a change in direction for BMW to have the performance end of thier vehicles with 2 doors not 4???

Cancerman · 05-05-2003, 22:54

Prolly same reason there was no AU GT. That car is just too damn ugly for the M badge.

Ugly or not though, it'll b back. I'm betting within a year. The first M5 was a 6pot, the current one is an 8pot. I wonder what next step in its evolution would be...

Cobra · 05-06-2003, 00:19

M5 will be back with a new name i reckon. I reckon that the next M3 will have a small (4 litres about) all-alloy V8 and the M5 Predecessor will have a V10.

Troutman · 05-06-2003, 00:45

BMW will have to bring the M5 back for as long as AMG has the E55. The V10 rumours were everywhere. I'd be sorry to see the car go.

As for the Z8, it wasn't particularly relevant to Australia anyway, but was a nice looking car.

He|mut · 05-06-2003, 01:01

The new 5 series looks disgusting... it'd be a bit of shame to see an M badge on one IMO. It'll be back, but i hope not with the new 5 series.

dave_au · 05-06-2003, 01:40

It will be back. With a vengence.

Afterall Nissan has stopped production of the R34 Skyline GTR, it does seem to happen that flagship performance models are put on hold for one reason or another - usually to bring a slightly more insane workhorse than before in.