BMW M Boss Frank Van Meel On The Future Of M, EVs, And Conserving The Enjoyable Alive

Monterey is a gathering place for a few of the world’s most costly and exquisite classics yearly. But amid the concours, auctions, and historic race automobiles, there’s additionally a robust concentrate on what comes subsequent.

BMW M is utilizing Car Week to convey the brand new M Concept Neue Klasse to North America for the primary time, whereas additionally celebrating the M3’s fortieth anniversary. It’s a becoming setting. In Monterey, the previous and future are sometimes separated by little various steps.

After making its world debut on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the M Concept Neue Klasse headed to California for Monterey Car Week. BMW displayed the idea on the House of M, on the Concept Lawn at Pebble Beach, at The Quail, and throughout the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca. Few automakers this yr have tied a brand new car so carefully to their design, motorsport, and model historical past.

This story originally appeared on Motor1 Germany

BMW M Concept Neue Klasse in Monterey

Photo by: Motor1.com Deutschland

Four Motors And A New Chapter For M

The idea gives a concrete preview of the primary totally electrical technology of BMW M high-performance fashions. At its core is a drivetrain with 4 electrical motors and a brand new M-specific car management system. BMW calls the central management unit the “Heart of Joy.” It is designed to coordinate the powertrain, brakes, and car dynamics a lot sooner and extra exactly than earlier methods. The idea due to this fact exhibits not only a new design language, however above all of the technical course of future M fashions. 

At first, presenting this future at Laguna Seca appears uncommon. The storied race weekend is constructed round roaring V8s, historic touring automobiles, and the odor of racing gasoline. BMW M is clearly selecting to place itself in direct dialog with its personal historical past, signaling that electrical efficiency can also be anticipated to satisfy the model’s requirements.

Photo by: BMW

40 Years Of The M3 As The Common Thread

At the identical time, BMW is celebrating 4 a long time of the M3. Since the E30 arrived in 1986, the mannequin has been thought of the guts of BMW M GmbH. The first M3 was initially created as a homologation mannequin for touring automobile racing. From that got here a mannequin line that, to today, connects highway and observe like few different efficiency automobiles. 

That is why BMW confirmed extra than simply highway automobiles from varied generations in Monterey. At the Motorsports Reunion, legendary racing variations of the M3 additionally took to the observe, from the E30 DTM to the E92 M3 GT. Even M boss Frank van Meel received behind the wheel of a historic race automobile himself. The message is evident: motorsport stays central to BMW M’s identification, even because the expertise of the longer term turns electrical. 

Frank van Meel recurrently will get behind the wheel of a race automobile himself, most just lately at Laguna Seca

Photo by: Motor1.com Deutschland

Against this backdrop, Laguna Seca offered the appropriate setting for our dialog with Frank van Meel. Surrounded by historic M3 race automobiles and the brand new M Concept Neue Klasse, we spoke with the BMW M boss about the way forward for the M3, the function of motorsport, and the way driving enjoyable will be carried into the age of electrification.

‘Form Follows Function Applies To Future M Cars, Too’

Motor1.com: The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse is among the important matters right here in Monterey. What message is that this automobile meant to ship? How clearly does it already present the way forward for BMW M?

Frank van Meel: This yr we’re celebrating 40 years of the M3. We began in motorsport. We needed to construct the primary M3, the E30, with a view to homologate the race automobile. That is de facto the place the story of M started: bringing motorsport expertise into manufacturing automobiles. You not had to decide on between a sports activities automobile and a standard manufacturing automobile; you would have each in a single.

We have continued that via each technology. The M Concept Neue Klasse exhibits that it’s going to proceed, and that it’s going to additionally turn out to be electrical. But that doesn’t imply our world is altering fully. The heritage of M and the motorsport DNA stay.

You can see that within the automobile, too. We have the widebody stance, the yellow lights from our particular fashions and motorsport, observe lights like on the LMDh race automobile, and aero parts from the M4 GT3. Inside, there are bucket seats produced from pure fiber. We have used this materials for years in GT4 racing, and now it’s prepared for manufacturing.

So the message is: It continues, however don’t be afraid; the whole lot will not be immediately changing into fully totally different. Form follows operate applies one-to-one to future M autos as nicely. That is particularly fascinating right here in Monterey, as a result of this occasion may be very a lot formed by gearheads. We are intentionally exhibiting the place issues are going, and we wish to have that dialogue.

2026 BMW M Concept Neue Klasse

Photo by: Motor1.com Deutschland

‘We Are Not Going Electric Because We Have To’

Motor1.com: The shift to electrical mobility is being intensely debated amongst high-performance automobile followers. Some producers are following their path pretty undeterred. With BMW M, nonetheless, it feels as if you’re listening very fastidiously. How a lot affect does suggestions from clients and followers even have in your selections?

Frank van Meel: A really massive one. We are in shut contact with our fan group, our sellers, clients, and automobile golf equipment. And we aren’t any totally different from our followers. The questions they ask themselves are the identical ones we ask ourselves, particularly on the subject of electrical mobility.

We will not be doing this as a result of it must be achieved, however as a result of we’re satisfied you may construct a quick and even higher automobile this fashion. The timing must be proper, although. It solely works if we will do it 100% the best way we wish to do it.

The Neue Klasse gave us a clean-sheet platform for that. We mentioned we might solely make a high-performance M with 4 electrical motors, torque vectoring, particular person management, a central management unit, and our personal software program. The high-voltage battery and electrical motors additionally must really feel M-like.

At the identical time, we ourselves like our inline-six and our V8. That is why we’re bringing these engines as much as the Euro 7 emissions commonplace and persevering with with combustion engines as nicely. There are clients who can’t cost their autos or who just like the sound and wish to preserve driving inner combustion engines.

We observe the dialogue in our group very carefully, and we learn the feedback as nicely. Of course there are individuals who say no one wants electrical automobiles. But there are additionally many who’re nonetheless skeptical and say they’d at the very least prefer to drive one as soon as.

We don’t determine for our clients what they must drive. We wish to construct automobiles that we ourselves love, whether or not electrical or combustion-powered. Customers can select what they like higher. 

Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

‘Every Second M2 We Sell In The U.S. Has A Manual Gearbox’

Motor1.com: Is there a concrete instance the place this suggestions has already influenced a product choice? Is the guide transmission a type of instances?

Frank van Meel: Yes. Especially within the U.S., the love for the guide transmission is gigantic. Every second M2 we promote there has a guide gearbox. Rear-wheel drive and a guide transmission are the dream mixture for a lot of purists. That is why we additionally made a restricted mannequin with a guide transmission for the U.S. Demand was monumental; the automobile was virtually bought out instantly.

Motor1.com: BMW M relies upon closely on the sensation behind the wheel. In an electrical automobile, sound and suggestions partly must be created in new methods. How far are you able to go along with simulation? Where is the road for you?

Frank van Meel: For me, it turns into synthetic if you merely copy what you may have right this moment and switch it into an electrical automobile. That can be copycat habits.

We measured all of the engines we have now made at M, from four- and six-cylinders to V8s and the V10 from the M5. Our sound engineer as soon as performed the V10 at a relentless 6,000 rpm. It is an iconic engine, however at a gradual 6,000 rpm it appears like a kitchen equipment.

Sound that feels genuine and emotional in a sure automobile can’t merely be copied into one other automobile. Even a V8 sound wouldn’t routinely slot in right this moment’s M3. In an electrical automobile, we have now to create the emotionality we had with six-, eight-, or ten-cylinder engines. But it has to swimsuit the electrical drivetrain and the particular automobile.

The sound is allowed to amplify what is definitely occurring. I’ve an electrical drive system, and I’ve to take its traits into consideration. From there, I can develop a sound that strikes me emotionally and offers me the sensation of being at one with the machine.

2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter

Photo by: BMW

‘Yes To Simulated Gear Changes’

Motor1.com: And what about simulated gear adjustments?

Frank van Meel: The similar applies to shifting. Of course, you would replicate the complete computerized or dual-clutch shifting course of. But then you definitely additionally tackle the disadvantages of a mechanical drivetrain. Why would I artificially restrict an electrical drivetrain so it could actually imitate one thing a combustion engine can do?

What I would like are totally different drive levels and totally different accelerator-pedal maps. On observe, the motive force ought to get a sense for the place they’re, how the automobile responds to load adjustments, and how briskly they’re going, with out continually trying on the speedometer. The proper acoustics and suggestions are a part of that.

That’s why, on the subject of simulated gear shifts, my reply is: sure to distinct gear adjustments. But imitating a conventional gear change with an interruption in energy supply simply so you may really feel a shift is unnecessary to me. We wish to make the brand new world extra controllable and extra emotional with out copying the disadvantages of the previous one.

Motor1.com: Let’s join that to motorsport. BMW is closely concerned in WEC and IMSA. At the identical time, Formula 1 is booming, and extra producers are getting concerned there, together with direct opponents. You have beforehand mentioned that WEC and IMSA are extra fascinating for BMW M. Is that also true?

Frank van Meel: Yes. And for us it isn’t nearly WEC, however equally about IMSA. The U.S. is a very powerful single marketplace for BMW M, with round 40 p.c of our quantity. BMW grew within the U.S. via racing. That is why IMSA is extraordinarily essential to us.

WEC and IMSA additionally match us as a result of there’s a direct switch of expertise. On the M Concept Neue Klasse, for instance, you may see parts from the M4 GT3, such because the vented hood and the diffuser. The lighting signature comes from our LMDh race automobile.

There are additionally connections within the powertrain. We race a V8 hybrid in motorsport, and we have now V8 hybrids within the M5 and XM. In some instances, the identical engineers work on these drivetrains. Certain matters will be examined extra carefully to manufacturing and extra rapidly via these racing collection.

‘Formula 1 Is Too Far Removed From The Production Series’

Motor1.com: And that type of expertise switch is what you’re lacking in Formula 1?

Frank van Meel: Yes. For us, Formula 1 is just too distant, an excessive amount of laboratory and never transferable sufficient to manufacturing automobiles. In Formula 1, it might be a totally separate expertise heart, disconnected from the remainder.

Our clients and followers actually like Formula 1, however in addition they like motorsport that’s extra direct and nearer to manufacturing. The historical past of M is that we switch motorsport into manufacturing automobiles. Formula 1 merely doesn’t match into that for us.

Motor1.com: To wrap up, a private query. If you would select precisely one BMW M mannequin to personal, which would it not be, and why?

Frank van Meel: For me it might be the M1, as a result of it symbolizes the beginning of M. It is an iconic, lovely automobile, and on the highway it nonetheless seems to be as if it might have been constructed right this moment. Ergonomically, chances are you’ll not sit in it completely completely, nevertheless it represents the emotional starting of the model.

Although now I’m already wavering. Maybe I might slightly have the three.0 CSL, however in that case, truly as a race automobile.

We need your opinion!

What would you prefer to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

– The Motor1.com Team