BMW performance boss sees market for hot M7

A BMW M7 should be created from the 7-series saloon, says M division engineering boss Albert Biermann.

Although Biermann says he wants to create the model, an M7 has never been officially made by the M division. The model would top the firm’s line-up as a flagship performance saloon.

Such a model exists of sorts, with BMW specialist Alpina making the B7, complete with a 533bhp twin-turbo V8 engine. However, Biermann said an M7 would be quite different.

“I would love to compete in this area of the market,” he said. “The money is just there to pick up. An M7 would be a much different proposition to the B7.”

But Biermann said an M7 was not in the product plan at present as M division concentrates on other projects. “There’s so many nice things you could do with unlimited money,” he said.

Such projects include the investigation of four-wheel drive for the next-generation M5 and M6 models, and a possible M3 version of the 3-series GT in 2016.

BMW M is not planning to extend its suite of SUVs with M versions of the BMW X3 and upcoming X4 to join its X5 M and X6 M models. Instead, it will develop M Performance versions, similar to how Audi differentiates S and RS models.