BMW M sold 14.3 per cent more cars in 2023 than 2022, meaning more than 200,000 were delivered for the first time - 202,530 in total. BMW reckons it demonstrates that ‘once again additional target groups have been attracted to extremely sporty vehicles with the M logo as a seal of quality.’
It’ll come as little surprise to find an EV as the most popular M car, the i4 M50 retaining its 2022 best-seller title for last year. As an M Performance model, it perhaps doesn’t qualify as a full-fat M car to dyed-in-the-wool enthusiasts like, um, us - but it’s hard to argue with the enthusiasm of buyers. There are still M340i and M440is out there with straight sixes, don’t forget, and the incentive-rich EV equivalent outsold them. BMW is predicting another big 12 months for its electric Ms, too, with the first full year on sale for both the i5 M60 xDrive and i7 M70 xDrive. The former will also gain a wagon variant very soon.
There’s good news for fans of more traditional M cars, too, as 2024 will see the debut of the seventh-generation M5 in both saloon and Touring forms - which is pretty exciting. The M2, M3 and M4 will also be revised; following what BMW calls the ‘huge success’ of the M3 CS, an M4 version will also follow in the coming months. BMW says the all-wheel-drive model will offer more power and ‘optimised weight’. Which we’re surely all aiming for in January, though there have been enough G8x M3s and M4s now to demonstrate that sizeable mass is no impediment to awesomeness. Still no word on that CS Touring, however.
Pleasingly for a little old island, the UK is the third biggest market for M cars globally behind Germany and the USA. We do really, really love a fast BMW. And all this despite the launch of the XM! Franciscus van Meel, BMW M Chairman, added: "Not least the ongoing success of the BMW i4 M50 confirms that we are on the right track to further advance the electrification of our product portfolio and to combine sustainable drive technologies with an emotionally powerful driving experience."
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